THB 

DR-J-R- 


FE  •  OF 

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OHN  •  T  •  F  AR,1  S 


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^  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  ^^ 


Presented    bfTVo^.  lAj."^.  S^r-cSene.  ,33733, 


BX  9225  .M46  F37  1912a     ^ 
Paris,  John  Thomson,  1871-  ! 

1949. 
The  life  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Miller 


T  f 


The  Life  of  Dr.  J.  R.  MiUer 


^^5^i<-^^ 


■>, 


THE  LIFE  OF 


NOV  1 2  1912 


Dr.  J.  R.  MILLER 


''Jesus  and  I  Are  Friends 


yy 


JOHN  T.  FARIS 

Associate  Editor  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication 
and  Sabbath  School  Work 


PHILADELPHIA 
The  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication 

191^ 


Copyright,     1912, 
By  John  T.  Faris 


FOREWORD 

Dk.  Miller  was  too  mucli  occupied  witli  things 
deemed  by  Mm  more  important  to  give  any  atten- 
tion to  file  selection  and  putting  aside  of  material 
concerning  his  life.  He  was  so  busy  writing  and 
speaking  and  living  and  loving,  with  the  shaping 
of  the  lives  of  others  in  view,  that  he  took  no  time 
to  think  of  the  world 's  interest  in  his  life.  It  never 
occurred  to  him  that  there  would  be  any  demand 
for  the  story  of  his  life,  and  he  discouraged  the 
efforts  of  friends  who  sought  to  gather  material 
for  a  biography. 

Yet  Dr.  Miller  was  the  author  of  the  truest  pos- 
sible description  of  himself.  He  did  not  think  of  it 
as  a  description — in  giving  it  he  was  only  telling 
the  reality  of  his  faith  in  his  Master.  But  all  who 
knew  him  agree  that  the  description  was  true  and 
accurate.  He  said,  **  Jesus  and  I  are  friends." 
This  is  the  story  of  the  life  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Miller, 
told  in  five  words. 

Dr.  Miller  gave  glimpses  of  his  life  in  his  books. 
Whenever  he  wrote  to  others  of  things  they  should 
do  from  day  to  day,  he  was  telling  unconsciously  of 


vi  FOEEWOED 

things  lie  was  doing  himself.  This  fact  is  apparent 
from  the  brief  quotations  from  his  writings  on  the 
page  facing  the  beginning  of  each  chapter  in  this 
volume.  These  quotations,  taken  together,  help  to 
fill  out  his  own  descriptive  statement :  *^  Jesus  and 
I  are  friends." 

J.  T.  F. 

Philadelphia,  September,  1912. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  Ancestry  and  Early  Years 

II.  With  the  Christian  Commission 

III.  At  the  Front      .... 

IV.  In  Camp  and  Hospital 

V.     The    Theological    Seminary    and 
Pastorate        .... 

VI.     The  Pastor  at  Work 

VII.     Thirty-Two  Years  an  Editor   . 

VIII.     How   Editorial   Associates    Viewed 
Work 


IX.  The  Author  of  Devotional  Books 

X.  Ministering  Through  the  Mails 

XI.  The  World  His  Parish     . 

XII.  Vacation  Days    . 

XIII.  The  Last  Years  . 

XIV.  Tributes  of  Affection 
Bibliography 


the 


His 


PAGE 

3 
21 
41 
55 

69 

87 
107 

133 
147 
167 
183 
199 
215 
231 
245 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

De.  J.  R.  Miller Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Headquarters  in  the  Field           ....  46 

J.  R.  Miller  (1868) V2 

J.  R.  Miller  (1875) 96 

Dr.  J.  R.  Miller  (1904) 192 


ANCESTEY  AND  EAELY  YEAES 


An  honoured  parentage  is  a  good  heritage.  It  puts  one 
under  tremendous  responsibility,  too,  for  its  blessings  are  a 
sacred  trust  which  must  be  kept  unsullied,  and  accounted  for. 
To  be  unfaithful  in  such  circumstances  is  not  only  to  leave  our 
work  undone,  but  to  mar,  possibly  destroy,  the  good  work  of 
others  which  had  been  put  into  their  hands  to  finish. — From 
*'  Morning  Thoughts  for  Every  Day  in  the  Year/' 

The  Master  sets  before  us  the  goal  of  our  being.  He  has  a 
beautiful  plan  for  each  life.  There  is  something  definite  for 
which  he  has  made  us,  into  which  he  would  fashion  us,  and 
toward  which  all  his  guidance,  education  and  training  will 
tend.  This  is  not  a  world  of  chance — it  is  our  Father's  world. 
All  the  experiences  of  our  lives  have  their  part  in  making  us 
what  Christ  would  have  us  become,  in  bringing  out  the  pos- 
sibilities that  he  sees  in  us  when  we  first  come  to  him. — From 
"  What  Christ's  Friendship  Means/'  in  "  The  Beauty  of  Self- 
Control" 


CHAPTER   I 

ANCESTEY  AND  EARLY  YEARS 

(1840  to  1862) 

James  Russell  Miller  was  always  too  mucli  en- 
grossed in  the  service  of  God  and  men  to  pay  any 
attention  to  collecting  facts  concerning  his  an- 
cestors. But  those  who  have  had  the  opportunity 
to  trace  the  Miller  family  to  its  source  across 
the  sea,  have  learned  facts  both  interesting  and 
illuminating. 

The  ancestors  on  the  mother 's  side  were  named 
McCarrell.  The  McCarrells  came  originally  from 
Scotland,  where  Sir  Lachlan  McCarrell — the  chief 
of  the  clan — ^was  a  friend  and  companion  of  Sir 
William  Wallace.  Early  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury the  McCarrells  went  for  religious  freedom  to 
Ireland.  In  Ulster  they  found  the  blessings  they 
sought.  Samuel  McCarrell,  one  of  the  descendants 
of  the  transplanted  Scotchmen,  died  in  County 
Armagh  in  1789,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five.  His 
son,  Thomas — the  great-grandfather  of  J.  R. 
Miller — ^was  born  in  County  Armagh  in  1741.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  weaver,  and  later  came  to 
America  in  1777,  in  a  merchant  ship  commanded 
by  his  uncle.     The  blockading  of  the  ports  pre- 

3 


4        THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

vented  his  immediate  return  home.  Soon  he  had 
no  desire  to  return:  his  heart  was  so  stirred  by 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard  of  the  struggles  of 
the  Colonies  that  he  became  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution about  October,  1777.  He  was  with  George 
"Washington  in  the  camp  at  Valley  Forge  the  fol- 
lowing winter.  He  had  with  him  his  Bible  and 
his  Confession  of  Faith,  which  are  treasured  to- 
day by  his  descendants.*  It  is  a  tradition  among 
these  descendants  that  he  was  once  struck  in  the 
breast  by  a  bullet,  but  that  the  Bible  saved  his 
life. 

During  the  first  years  after  the  close  of  the  war 
the  young  Scotch-Irishman  lived  in  Virginia.  In 
1789,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  he  took  the 
hard  journey  across  the  mountains  to  Washington 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Two  of  the  children  were 
carried  in  the  ends  of  a  pack  thrown  across  the 
back  of  a  horse;  the  third  was  held  by  his 
mother  as  she  sat  on  her  horse.  In  1811  Mr. 
McCarrell  bought  the  farm  *^  Pleasant  Hill," 
near  Eldersville,  which  is  still  in  the  possession 

*Oii  the  title  page  of  his  Confession  of  Faith  is  this  inscription: 

THOMAS  McCARRELL,  HIS  BOOK 

God  give  him  grace  therein  to  look 
That  so  he  may  the  truth  contain, 
And  these  improve  while  life  remains. 

Lest  some  should  find  the  owner's  name 
Or  if  he  lose  and  you. should  find, 
I  pray  you  to  restore  again. 

Thomas  McCarrell,  1774. 


ANCESTRY  AND  EAELY  YEARS    5 

of  the  family.  He  was  a  Ruling  Elder  in 
the  **  Seceder "  Church  now  known  as  the 
Cross  Creek  United  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
members  of  this  godly  household  frequently 
made  the  trip  of  sixteen  miles  to  Canonsburg  to 
attend  service.  He  died  March  29,  1836,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-five.  His  wife,  Eleanor  Rusk  Mc- 
Carrell,  died  at  the  same  age,  on  September  19, 
1846.  Surviving  them  were  ^ve  children — three 
daughters  and  two  sons.  Four  of  these  married 
and  founded  Christian  homes,  in  which  the  family 
altar  was  always  maintained.  From  two  of  these 
homes  and  the  homes  that  succeeded  them,  came 
seven  ministers  of  the  gospel,  whose  combined 
service  has  been  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years. 

Mary  McCarrell,  who  was  born  November  21, 
1782,  married  Robert  Creswell.  Their  daughter 
Eleanor  married  James  Alexander  Miller,  whose 
great  grandfather,  Samuel  Miller, — also  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent — was  born  in  1717.  Samuel  Miller's 
home  was  near  Hickory,  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Here  he  spent  most  of  his  life.  In 
1794  the  headquarters  of  General  Lee  in  the  cam- 
paign to  suppress  the  Whisky  Insurrection  were  at 
his  house.  His  son  James — the  third  of  his  eleven 
children — moved  in  1798  to  a  farm  near  Tomlinson 
Run  Church  in  Beaver  County.  In  1812 — ^when 
ninety-five  years  of  age — Samuel  Miller  rode  on 
horseback  from  the  Washington  County  home  to 
the  Beaver  County  farm.     The  distance — thirty 


6        THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

miles — ^was  made  in  a  single  day,  with  a  rest  at 
noon  for  dinner.  He  lived  seven  years  after  this 
memorable  trip,  dying  in  1819  at  the  age  of  one 
hundred  and  two.  In  his  last  will  and  testament 
this  godly  man  provided  funds  for  the  purchase 
of  a  Bible  to  be  given  to  each  of  his  grandsons. 
He  felt  that  he  could  make  them  no  better 
bequest. 

James  Miller  married  Polly  Russell.  Their  son, 
James  Alexander  Miller,  married  Eleanor  Cres- 
well.  Ten  children  blessed  their  home — three  sons 
and  seven  daughters.  One  son  and  two  daughters 
died  in  infancy.  Both  of  the  surviving  sons  be- 
came ministers  of  the  gospel.  James  Russell 
Miller  was  the  second  child,  though  his  older  sister 
died  before  he  was  bom,  on  March  20,  1840. 

In  1840  the  family  home  was  near  Frankfort 
Springs,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  banks  of  the  Big 
Traverse,  a  merry  little  mill  stream,  which  drains 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  valleys  in  the  southern 
part  of  Beaver  County.  The  old  homestead  and 
the  mill,  where  the  father  spent  his  days  labour- 
ing for  the  support  of  the  family,  are  still 
standing. 

The  home  on  the  Big  Traverse  was  a  house  of 
prayer.  When  it  was  founded  the  family  altar 
was  set  up,  and  it  was  never  suffered  to  be  broken 
down.  As  the  children  came  into  the  home  they 
soon  learned  that  whatever  else  of  the  household 
routine  was  omitted,  family  worship  was  never 
forgotten,  and  never  slighted.    Neither  pressure 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  YEARS    7 

of  business  nor  the  presence  of  guests  was  ever 
offered  as  excnse  for  the  omission  of  morning 
and  evening  Bible  reading  and  prayer.  The  fam- 
ily worship  took  time:  the  hurried  repetition  of 
a  verse  of  Scripture  and  a  sentence  prayer  was 
never  considered  enough;  but  there  was  invariably 
the  reverent  and  devout  singing  of  a  Psalm,  the 
reading  of  a  chapter  from  the  Bible,  in  regular 
course,  and  a  prayer  in  which  the  members  of 
the  family  were  committed  to  God's  keeping,  and 
the  interests  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  at  home  and 
abroad,  were  remembered.  It  is  recalled  by  one 
who  often  participated  in  these  sacred  services 
that  a  petition  seldom  omitted  pleaded  that  the 
love  of  God  might  be  shed  abroad  in  the  hearts 
of  the  kneeling  suppliants, — **  that  love  which 
works  by  faith,  which  purifies  the  heart,  which 
overcomes  the  world.''  For  a  long  time  the  one 
who  tells  of  the  petition  wondered  where  in  the 
Bible  it  could  be  found,  until  diligent  search 
showed  him  that  it  is  a  mosaic  from  the  words 
of  Paul  and  Peter  and  John.  The  priest  at  that 
family  altar  was  a  Bible  student. 

He  was  also  a  man  of  prayer  who  knew  how  to 
point  out  to  the  family  the  way  to  the  Throne 
of  Grace,  because  he  had  found  it  himself  and  was 
travelling  it  daily.  He  knew  the  meaning  of  the 
exhortation,  **  Pray  without  ceasing."  One  of  the 
burdens  of  his  private  prayers  was  that  his  boys 
might  become  ministers  of  the  gospel.  It  had  been 
his  wish  to  become  a  minister,  but  the  way  was 


8        THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

closed — the  claims  of  his  dependent  parents  on 
his  time  conld  not  be  passed  by.  After  the  death 
of  their  first-born,  the  husband  and  wife  promised 
God  that  if  a  son  was  given  them,  he  should  be 
dedicated  to  the  ministry. 

In  this  godly  home  the  Sabbath  was  sacredly 
set  apart.  Seldom,  if  ever,  was  the  family  pew 
empty,  though  the  church  was  several  miles  dis- 
tant, and  the  roads  were  frequently  well-nigh  im- 
passable. There  were  no  evening  services  in  the 
churches  in  those  days,  but  the  home  became  a 
little  sanctuary.  The  devout  father  was  the  min- 
ister. Matthew  Henry's  ''  Commentary  "  was 
taken  from  the  shelf,  and  his  exposition  of  the 
text  of  the  evening  was  read  aloud.  Then  came 
the  reciting  of  the  Shorter  Catechism;  as  the  chil- 
dren grew  old  enough  they  were  required  to  learn 
this  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Each  took  part  in 
the  recitation  as  far  as  the  questions  had  been 
learned,  and  read  the  answers  which  had  not  yet 
been  memorised.  When  all  the  children  had  com- 
pleted the  one  hundred  and  seven  answers,  no 
catechism  was  ever  seen  at  the  Sabbath  evening 
service.  The  father  would  propose  the  first  ques- 
tion, which  was  answered  by  the  one  sitting  near- 
est to  him.  This  one  would  become  questioner  in 
turn,  while  the  one  answering  the  second  question 
would  propose  the  third  in  order,  and  so  on  to 
the  end  of  the  series.  The  method  required  the 
memorising  of  both  questions  and  answers,  but 
those  who  mastered  the  book  in  this  way  had  a 


ANCESTEY  AND  EARLY  YEAES    9 

working  knowledge  of  theology  that  served  them 
excellently  in  later  life.  Every  member  of  the 
family  felt  as  James  did  when  he  said  in  later 
years,  *'  I  owe  to  my  father's  home  the  religious 
training  which  has  meant  so  much  to  me  in  my 
life.'' 

The  home  in  which  religion  was  given  such 
prominent  and  constant  place  was  not  the  abode 
of  gloom.  The  children  were  glad  to  spend  the 
evening  in  the  company  of  their  parents.  Music 
was  their  solace  during  many  of  these  evenings. 
James  frequently  took  part  in  this  relaxation, 
either  with  his  rich  tenor  voice  or  on  the  violin. 
Frequently  there  would  be  a  guest  in  the  family 
circle,  for  not  many  days  passed  without  the  com- 
ing of  one  or  more  visitors.  Frequently  on  Sun- 
day a  minister  who  had  come  to  assist  the  pastor 
at  the  communion  service  or  on  some  other  oc- 
casion would  be  entertained  by  Elder  Miller.  The 
conversation  of  these  visitors  did  much  to  shape 
James's  purpose  in  life. 

A  visitor  to  the  neighbourhood  of  an  entirely 
different  sort  left  an  indelible  impression  on  the 
mind  of  the  growing  Eoy.  When  he  was  an  old 
man  he  said  of  this  visitor: 

*  *  Sixty  years  ago  a  man  went  through  Western 
Pennsylvania,  making  infidel  or  atheistic  speeches. 
He  had  some  eloquence  and  spoke  persuasively, 
and  many  men's  minds  were  poisoned  by  his 
words.  Some  years  later  he  met  Christ  and  sur- 
rendered to  Him,  becoming  an  earnest  believer 


10       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

and  a  zealous  Christian.  One  of  the  earliest  recol- 
lections of  my  boyhood  is  of  this  man  holding 
meetings  around  my  home  and  speaking  boldly  for 
Christ.  When  he  became  a  Christian  he  saw  his 
terrible  error  in  having  laboured  so  against 
Christ.  He  saw  that  he  had  done  great  harm  to 
many  lives  by  his  arguments  against  Christianity, 
against  the  Bible,  against  God.  And  he  went  to 
the  same  neighbourhoods,  where  he  had  sown 
seeds  of  infidelity,  and  spoke  in  the  same  halls 
and  schoolhouses,  trying  to  undo  the  evil  work  of 
his  earlier  years.  Very  pathetic  was  the  sight 
of  the  old  man  at  his  unavailing  work.'' 

The  picture  of  the  vain  efforts  of  this  old  man 
to  undo  the  evil  work  of  his  earlier  years  was 
afterwards  to  point  the  warning  that  evil  words 
once  spoken  are  gone  beyond  recall. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were  a  blessing  in  the  homes 
of  others  as  well  as  in  their  own  family  circle. 
Seldom  was  there  sickness  or  sorrow  in  a  neigh- 
bour's house  when  one  or  both  of  them  did  not 
go  at  once  on  an  errand  of  mercy.  Their  readi- 
ness to  help  in  this  way  soon  made  an  impression 
on  James,  who  was  noted  when  quite  young  for  that 
eagerness  to  go  to  houses  where  there  was  sick- 
ness, which  was  a  characteristic  to  the  end  of  his 
life.  Neighbours  of  early  days  lovingly  tell  of 
his  ministry  to  a  large  family,  all  of  whom  were 
stricken  with  typhoid  fever;  for  weeks  he  gave 
himself  to  the  care  of  the  household,  till  all  but  two 
were  nursed  back  to  health.  The  father  and  one 
son  died.    After  these  deaths  the  volunteer  nurse 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  YEARS   11 

— then  a  student  away  from  home — made  frequent 
visits  of  sympathy  to  the  bereaved  family. 

With  his  sisters  James  attended  the  district 
school  in  Hanover  Township,  where  he  learned 
the  elements  of  a  fair  English  education.  That  he 
was  an  eager  student  was  testified  by  an  early 
teacher,  Wallace  Wilson,  who  died  only  a  few 
months  before  his  pupil  of  those  early  days.  He 
said  it  was  always  a  pleasure  to  teach  James  Rus- 
sell Miller,  and  he  took  particular  delight  in  telling 
of  the  ambitious  student's  request  that  algebra 
might  be  added  to  the  curriculum.  The  teacher 
frankly  confessed  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
subject,  and  proposed  that  both  should  study  it 
together.  The  old  man's  eyes  kindled  as  he  re- 
counted the  success  of  that  winter.  With  the  un- 
assuming spirit  for  which  he  always  was  noted, 
his  pupil  aided  him  in  understanding  the  new 
branch  of  learning. 

When  James  was  about  fourteen  years  old,  his 
father  moved  to  a  farm  near  Calcutta,  Ohio.  In 
the  new  home  James  was  popular  among  his 
schoolmates,  as  he  had  been  in  his  Pennsylvania 
home.  The  young  people  of  the  neighbourhood 
delighted  to  gather  at  the  Miller  fireside  to  enjoy 
one  of  the  evenings  of  good-fellowship  for  which 
the  household  was  noted.  It  is  easy  to  understand 
this  when  the  lovable  James  had  lively  sisters, 
one  of  whom  he  described  in  fascinating  manner 
in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  written  years  after  he  went 
out  into  the  world : 


12       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

*^  Your  letters  always  remind  me  of  a  little 
sister  at  home  whose  wicked  pranks  are  never  to 
be  forgotten,  and  whose  letters  always  come  filled 
with  little  bits  of  wit  and  sarcasm.  She  delighted 
always  in  teasing  me  when  I  was  at  home,  in  con- 
tinually playing  tricks  with  my  letters,  hiding  my 
books  and  papers,  and  otherwise  endlessly  annoy- 
ing me — but  always  with  such  good  humour,  and 
with  such  a  quiet,  innocent  air,  that,  no  matter 
how  evil-disposed,  I  could  not  for  the  world  get 
angry  with  her.  However,  she  knows  very  well 
that  her  big  brother  is  very  good-natured  and 
never  apt  to  grow  angry,  and,  moreover,  that  he 
enjoys  teasing  quite  as  well  as  she  does.  She  is 
a  good  girl,  and  next  to  my  mother  the  dearest  on 
earth  to  me.  I  like  spirit  and  have  a  particular 
fondness  for  a  style  of  intercourse  which  some 
very  punctilious  and  exact  people  call  impu- 
dence. ' ' 

The  writer  of  this  letter  was  looked  up  to  as  a 
leader  by  the  members  of  the  household  and  by 
his  boy  friends  from  other  homes.  A  younger 
companion  was  deeply  impressed  by  his  earnest- 
ness of  purpose  and  his  integrity  of  character. 
In  a  letter  written  years  later  this  companion 
said: 

*  *  You  have  been  a  constant  uplift  to  me  all  my 
days.  You  know  that  naturally  I  was  a  shiftless 
creature.  My  only  ambition  in  the  early  days  of 
my  existence  was  for  a  broomstick  horse.  Your 
example  and  gentle  influence  did  much  to  wake 
me  up,  and  it  has  been  a  mighty  inspiration  to 
me  ever  since.    If  my  life  has  been  of  any  service 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  YEARS   13 

to  the  world,  this  is  owing  to  God's  blessing  on 
your  life.'' 

One  day  James  chiselled  his  name  most  neatly 
on  a  great  stone  near  the  Calcutta  home.  The 
companion  just  mentioned  saw  the  letters  and 
carved  his  initials  beneath  those  of  the  one  whom 
he  desired  to  imitate.  Other  boys  followed  his 
example,  leaving  their  initials  on  the  stone,  not 
always  with  the  same  neatness  and  skill,  but  in 
a  way  that  showed  the  power  of  example.  That 
stone,  with  its  silent  testimony  to  the  influence 
of  one  earnest  youth  on  his  companions,  may  still 
be  seen  by  visitors. 

For  three  years  after  going  to  Calcutta  James 
attended  a  district  school  during  the  short  winter 
months  and  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  sum- 
mer. Many  of  his  evenings  were  spent  in  private 
study.  Thus,  in  1857,  he  was  well  prepared  for 
entering  Beaver  Academy  in  his  native  county. 

In  a  letter  written  in  1911  to  Daniel  W.  Fisher, 
D.D.,  concerning  Calvin  W.  Mateer,  D.D.,  long  a 
missionary  in  China,  he  said: 

*^  Dr.  Mateer  was  my  first  teacher  in  Latin  and 
Greek.  I  never  can  forget  how  he  received  me 
when  I  first  went  to  the  academy  at  Beaver.  I 
was  a  bashful  country  boy,  full  of  enthusiasm  and 
eager  to  learn,  but  knowing  almost  nothing. 
There  was  no  room  ready  for  me  in  the  academy 
the  first  night,  and  the  young  principal  took  me 
into  his  own  room  and  into  his  own  bed.  The  im- 
pression he  made  upon  me  that  night,  especially 


14      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

at  the  time  of  prayer  before  we  went  to  bed,  is 
one  I  never  shall  lose  from  memory." 

At  once  he  became  known  as  a  good  student. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  was  asked  to  assist  in 
teaching  some  of  the  lower  classes  in  the  acad- 
emy. Later  he  taught  also  in  the  Beaver  Female 
Seminary.  Always  he  was  diligent  and  painstak- 
ing in  the  performance  of  his  double  duties  as 
student  and  tutor. 

Rev.  J.  A.  McGill,  then  principal  of  the  acad- 
emy, was  still  living  when  his  pupil-teacher  of 
those  days  closed  his  life  on  earth,  and  he  wrote 
this  testimony: 

**  Mr.  Miller  gave  himself  heartily  to  every- 
thing that  was  for  the  good  of  the  academy.  He 
was  a  diligent  student,  a  genial  companion,  a 
trustworthy  friend.'' 

He  was  not  content  to  study  merely  to  make 
recitations  and  pass  examinations,  but  he  inspired 
those  he  taught  with  a  like  spirit.  He  not  only 
thoroughly  mastered  the  subject  in  hand,  but  so 
far  as  his  time  would  permit  he  made  himself 
familiar  with  the  general  literature  that  came 
within  his  reach.  The  poets  were  his  great  de- 
light, and  his  mind  and  soul  were  enriched  by 
many  of  their  treasures.  He  seldom  attempted 
to  phrase  his  own  thoughts  in  rime,  yet  all  that 
he  wrote  revealed  the  true  spirit  of  the  poet.  It 
was  his  habit  to  try  to  reproduce  from  memory 
sentences  and  paragraphs  which  had  impressed 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  YEARS   15 

him,  thus  making  them  his  own.  Then  he  would 
write  original  sentences  and  paragraphs  modelled 
on  those  of  the  masters.  He  was  a  painstaking 
composer,  often  making  many  drafts  of  his  com- 
positions, until  they  reached  as  nearly  as  possible 
the  high  standard  which  he  set  for  himself.  His 
ideal  was  simplicity  and  purity  of  diction,  and 
he  was  fond  of  illustrations  that  would  be  like 
windows  through  which  the  visions  of  the  soul 
might  become  real  to  others. 

Yet  he  took  equal  delight  in  studying  the  book 
of  Nature  which  was  spread  out  so  entrancingly 
before  him.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  the 
scenery  of  the  Ohio  Valley,  especially  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Beaver,  know  that  no  praise  of  its  beauty 
can  be  called  extravagant.  In  the  autumn  season 
especially,  the  fields  and  forests  of  that  region 
present  a  wealth  of  beauty.  Long  walks  in  the 
country  and  extended  rowing  excursions  on  the 
river  increased  his  love  for  God  and  God's  world 
and  all  mankind. 

Busy  as  he  was — ^in  preparation  for  recitation, 
in  hearing  his  own  classes,  in  athletic  interests — 
he  had  time  for  the  ministry  to  others  for  which 
he  was  always  known.  A  daughter  of  Matthew 
Duff,  an  assistant  in  the  school,  wrote  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1912: 


**  I  have  heard  both  father  and  mother  speak 
of  the  way  J.  R.  Miller  had  of  doing  little  kind- 
nesses that  boys  are  not  in  the  habit  of  doing.   One 


16       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

such  kindness  was  taking  care  of  me  one  night 
when  I  was  a  very  sick  baby  and  my  parents  were 
worn  out.  ...  It  has  been  my  habit  for  years  to 
read  to  mother  from  Dr.  Miller's  ^  Year  Book.' 
I  don 't  think  she  ever  realised  that  he  had  grown 
old." 

Very  early  in  life  he  had  begun  to  manifest  a 
deep  interest  in  vital  personal  religion,  and  this 
was  intensified  during  the  first  winter  at  the  acad- 
emy. Those  who  were  his  fellow  students  speak 
of  him  as  a  young  man  of  prayer.  He  was  a  reg- 
ular and  devout  worshipper  in  the  church,  where 
his  voice  joined  heartily  in  leading  its  service  of 
praise.  He  despised  ostentation  in  religion,  yet 
religion  was  to  him  a  matter  of  daily  life,  and  it 
shone  out  in  every  word  and  deed.  One  has  said, 
**  His  life  was  a  happy  illustration  of  the  Mas- 
ter's promise,  ^  He  that  believe th  on  me,  from 
within  him  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water.'  " 

He  made  no  parade  of  the  fact  that  his  fullness 
of  life  came  from  God,  yet  his  intimate  relations 
with  God  could  not  be  hidden.  His  associates 
knew  that  his  life  was  renewed  by  daily  contact 
with  Him  whom,  even  then,  he  was  fond  of  calling 
his  Friend. 

On  October  10,  1857,  he  united  with  the  Asso- 
ciate Presbyterian  Church  of  West  Union,  located 
near  Calcutta.  As  the  Associate  Reformed  Church 
was  one  of  the  bodies  which  formed  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church — on  May  26,  1858 — he  was 
from  that  date  a  United  Presbyterian. 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  YEARS   17 

Thereafter,  whenever  the  young  Christian  was 
at  home,  he  took  his  turn  in  leading  family 
prayers.  The  younger  members  of  the  household 
gladly  accepted  him  as  assistant,  for  they  realised 
his  sincerity  and  earnestness  of  purpose.  Already 
they  knew  him  as  a  prince  in  prayer.  One  of  the 
distinct  recollections  of  his  sisters  is  that  he  was 
much  given  to  secret  prayer.  One  sister  has  told 
of  his  coming  home  one  evening  after  the  family 
had  retired,  bringing  with  him  a  friend  who  was 
to  share  his  room  for  the  night.  Before  retiring 
he  stepped  into  the  room  where  two  of  his  sisters 
slept,  and,  supposing  them  to  be  asleep,  knelt  in 
prayer.  As  she  saw  his  countenance  in  the  moon- 
light it  seemed  to  be  like  the  face  of  an  angel. 
She  was  only  a  child,  but  she  felt  that  the  humble 
room  was  the  very  gate  of  heaven,  for  he  who 
knelt  by  her  bedside  was  holding  converse  with 
the  Father. 

His  brother,  too,  recalls  vividly  how,  when 
James  would  go  to  bed  after  spending  an  evening 
in  study,  he  would  pray  long  and  earnestly. 
James  thought  his  brother  was  asleep  and  he  gave 
himself  without  reserve  to  his  prayers.  He 
would  frequently  kneel  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  and 
would  whisper  as  if  talking  to  a  friend.  '^  He 
didn't  talk  about  his  religion,''  the  brother  has 
said,  **  but  he  made  it  very  real  to  me  when  he 
gave  me  a  Bible  in  which  he  wrote  this  message : 

**  *  Read  this  Book  as  a  letter  from  the  dearest 
of  all  friends. '  ' ' 


18       THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

There  was  no  trace  of  tlie  I-am-holier-than- 
thon  spirit.  He  was  as  simple  in  his  bearing 
when  a  boy  as  he  was  when  a  man.  There  was 
a  deep,  genuine  sympathy  in  his  heart  that 
made  all  he  met  feel  at  once  he  was  their  friend 
who  understood  them  and  in  whom  they  could  con- 
fide. He  was  free  from  that  patronising  air  which 
too  often  impairs  the  influence  of  those  who  would 
be  helpful  to  others.  Those  who  worked  beside 
him  in  the  harvest  field  or  met  him  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood social  gatherings,  as  well  as  those  who 
were  his  schoolmates,  agreed  that  he  was  one  of 
themselves,  who  showed  in  every  word  and  action 
that  he  was  interested  in  them  and  wanted  to  be 
of  use  to  them.  So,  as  he  advanced  gradually  be- 
yond the  companions  of  the  home,  no  jealousy 
was  aroused,  but  on  all  sides  there  was  rejoicing. 

During  his  academy  course  he  taught  one  term 
of  school  at  Industry,  Pennsylvania,  and  another 
at  Calcutta,  Ohio.  So  he  did  not  enter  West- 
minster College  at  New  Wilmington,  Pennsyl- 
vania, until  1861.  He  was  so  far  advanced,  how- 
ever, that  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1862.  In  the 
autunm  of  that  year  he  entered  the  theological 
seminary  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Allegheny,  Pennsylvania. 

Throughout  the  first  year  at  the  seminary  his 
mind  was  full  of  the  war.  He  longed  to  enlist. 
But  he  had  almost  completed  the  year  before  his 
course  was  interrupted  by  military  service. 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION 


We  should  not  be  content  to  let  a  single  day  pass  in  which 
We  do  not  speak  some  gracious  word  or  do  a  kindness  that 
will  add  to  the  happiness,  the  hope,  or  the  courage  and 
strength  of  another  life.  Such  ministries  of  love  will  redeem 
our  days  of  toil  and  struggle  from  dreariness  and  earthli- 
ness,  and  make  them  radiant  in  God's  eye  and  in  the  record 
they  make  for  eternity. — From  ''  Upper  Currents  J' 

We  represent  Christ  wherever  we  go.  He  is  not  here  to-day 
in  human  form,  but  He  sends  us  in  His  place.  We  are  to  act 
for  Him,  speak  the  words  of  kindness  we  would  speak  if  He 
were  here,  do  the  deed  of  love  He  would  do  if  He  were  in  our 
place.  We  must  be  faithful  to  our  mission.  We  must  never  be 
silent  when  we  ought  to  speak.  We  must  never  speak  when 
we  ought  to  be  silent. — From  ^'  Witnesses,  for  Christ"  in  ''  A 
Heart  Garden." 


CHAPTER   II 

WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION 
(March,  1863,  to  Sept.  19,  1864) 

Mr.  Miller  was  in  college  when  Fort  Sumter 
fell  and  the  country  was  plunged  into  the  throes 
of  civil  war.  He  had  just  reached  his  majority, 
and  like  ho"  ts  of  other  young  men,  felt  the  patri- 
otic impulse  to  offer  his  life  at  once  for  his  coun- 
try's defence.  Some  months  passed,  however,  be- 
fore his  enlistment,  and  then  circumstances  pre- 
vented his  serving  in  the  ranks,  as  it  was  his 
earnest  purpose  to  do.  He  enlisted  as  a  member 
of  a  company  recruited  in  and  about  Calcutta, 
Ohio.  The  company  left  for  Camp  Dennison,  near 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  they  were  encamped  for 
a  time.  Their  enlistment  was  on  the  condition 
that  they  were  to  be  placed  in  a  regiment  as  a 
company.  At  that  time,  however,  there  was  no 
place  where  they  could  be  so  attached,  and  the 
only  way  the  officials  in  the  department  could  ac- 
cept them  was  as  individuals,  to  fill  vacancies 
in  other  companies.  This  was  not  in  accord  with 
the  wish  of  the  young  men,  and  they  returned  to 
their  homes.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Miller  con- 
tinued his  studies  until  he  saw  the  opportunity 

21 


22       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

for  effective  service  through  the  new  Christian 
Commission,  which  was  organised  soon  after  the 
disastrous  Battle  of  Bull  Run. 

During  the  early  months  of  the  Civil  War  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Washing- 
ton and  New  York  and  the  Tract  Society  of  New 
York  and  Boston  sought  to  give  help  both  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  to  the  soldiers.  The  work  was 
too  great,  however,  for  the  handful  of  workers 
which  these  agencies  could  put  in  the  field.  So  the 
National  Committee  of  the  Young  Men 's  Christian 
Association  called  a  convention  which  met  in  New 
York  City  November  14,  1861,  to  consider  the 
needs  of  the  army.  The  work  of  the  United  States 
Christian  Commission  was  outlined  and  the  organ- 
isation completed  next  day.  Twelve  members 
were  named  who  were  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of 
the  convention.  George  H.  Stuart  of  Philadelphia 
was  made  chairman  of  the  new  organisation, 
which  began  its  work  at  once,  with  the  hearty  en- 
dorsement of  President  Lincoln,  the  Secretary  of 
War,  the  commanding  general,  and  others  in  au- 
thority. 

The  work  of  the  Commission,  as  outlined  at 
the  convention,  was  both  special  and  general. 
The  official  records  of  the  body  defined  the  activi- 
ties thus : 

^'  The  relief  and  care  of  the  wounded,  during 
and  immediately  after  battle,  and  meeting  the 
wants  of  men  in  such  places  as  parole  and  con- 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION    23 

vale  scent  camp,  and  other  emergencies,  may  be 
called  ^  Special  Work. ' 

''  The  supply  of  religious  service  in  aid  of 
chaplains,  or  in  their  place,  for  hospitals  and  regi- 
ments without  chaplains,  the  supply  of  reading 
matter  to  men  in  hospitals  and  throughout  the 
army,  the  distribution  of  bodily  comforts,  and  the 
promotion  of  intercourse  with  home,  may  be  called 
*  General  Work.'  '' 


The  work  was  done  by  voluntary  and  paid  dele- 
gates, under  the  direction  of  Field  Agents.  Each 
agent  had  charge  of  one  army  corps,  and  directed 
the  activities  of  from  five  to  ten  or  more  delegates. 
General  Field  Agents  supervised  the  Field  Agents* 
In  all  191  delegates  were  commissioned  in  1862; 
1,067  in  1863;  1,880  in  1864;  and  934  in  1865. 
Many  of  these  served  from  four  to  six  weeks  only, 
but  a  large  number  were  active  for  much  longer 
terms.  The  average  number  at  work  in  1862  was 
48;  in  1863,  115;  in  1864,  217;  in  1865,  310. 

The  work  was  supported  by  gifts  of  money, 
clothing,  printed  matter,  food  and  comforts  from 
all  parts  of  the  North.  Many  gifts  came  from 
abroad.  The  total  value  of  gifts  of  all  kinds  ad- 
ministered during  the  war  was  more  than  six  mil- 
lion dollars. 

A  statement  made  by  General  Grant  concerning 
the  work  of  the  Christian  Commission  at  the  final 
meeting  of  the  representatives  in  Washington 
City,  February  11,  1866,  indicates  its  great  value 
to  the  country ; 


24       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

**  By  the  agency  of  the  Commission  much  suf- 
fering has  been  saved  on  almost  every  battle  field 
and  in  every  hospital  during  the  war.  No  doubt 
thousands  of  persons  now  living  attribute  their 
recovery,  in  great  part,  to  volunteer  agencies  sent 
to  the  field  and  hospitals  by  the  free  contributions 
of  our  loyal  citizens.  The  United  States  Sanitary 
.Commission  and  the  United  States  Christian  Com- 
mission have  been  the  principal  agencies  in  col- 
lecting and  distributing  these  contributions.  To 
them  the  army  feel  the  same  gratitude  that  the 
loyal  public  feel  for  the  services  rendered  by  the 
army. ' ' 

Equally  strong  and  hearty  was  the  testimony 
of  General  Meade  on  the  same  occasion : 

**  One  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  history  of 
the  great  war  from  which  we  have  just  emerged 
will  be  the  record  of  the  noble  spirit  displayed  by 
our  people,  in  their  devotion  to  the  wants  and 
comforts  of  our  soldiers.  No  one  not  in  the  field 
and  witnessing  the  scenes  of  distress  there  ex- 
hibited, can  fully  appreciate  the  services  thus  ren- 
dered to  humanity.  The  United  States  Christian 
Commission  was  conspicuous  in  the  great  work  of 
love  and  charity,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  survivors 
of  the  war  will,  like  myself,  ever  have  in  grate- 
ful memory  the  debt  of  gratitude  so  greatly  due 
to  it.'' 

It  was  in  March,  1863,  when  Mr.  Miller— then 
a  middler  at  Allegheny  Seminary — ^began  his 
service  as  delegate.  He  promised  to  serve  for  six 
weeks.  But  his  work  was  so  well  done  that  at 
the  expiration  of  this  period  he  was  urged  to 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION    25 

remain  for  tlie  summer  campaign.  A  good  sit- 
uation was  waiting  for  him  at  home,  but  he  deter- 
mined to  give  this  up  and  stay  where  he  felt  he 
was  needed  more.  He  was,  therefore,  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  As  Assistant  Field 
Agent,  it  fell  to  him,  together  with  two  others, 
to  direct  the  extensive  operations  of  the  Com- 
mission at  Gettysburg  after  the  notable  battle 
fought  in  July  of  that  year.  The  Annals  of  the 
Commission  contain  this  reference  to  the  service 
there  rendered: 

**  Every  station  occupied  by  the  Commission  on 
this  field  of  blood  is  worthy  of  a  special  record. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  at  every  point  of  this  field, 
as  at  others  of  like  character,  the  effort  to  relieve 
temporal  wants  was  blended  with  Christian  coun- 
sel and  consolation,  and  as  ever  before,  so  here, 
the  Holy  Spirit  attended  such  ministrations  with 
the  divine  blessing." 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by 
Mr.  Miller  a  few  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg gives  an  insight  into  the  character  of  the 
work  in  which  he  was  engaged: 

**  General  Meade  and  staff  were  at  the  service 
last  Sabbath  morning.  Two  of  his  staff  are  known 
to  be  religious  men,  and  take  part  in  religious 
services,  I  have  noticed,  and  Captain  P.  of  Gen- 
eral Meade's  staff  remarked  the  same  to  me,  that 
there  is  a  marked  change  in  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath  around  headquarters  during  the  past 
month.    Every  Sabbath  grows  stiller  and  quieter. 


26       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

I  was  at  headquarters  last  Sabbath  morning.  It 
was  the  calmest  and  most  like  the  Sabbath  of  any 
I  have  spent  in  this  army.  I  blessed  God  for  it. 
Flags  were  down,  offices  were  closed,  and  none 
but  the  most  important  business  was  transacted. 
General  Patrick  called  at  our  tent,  conversed  for 
a  half  hour,  inquired  concerning  arrangements 
of  service  during  the  day,  selected  some  books, 
papers,  etc.,  and  then  attended  services  himself, 
morning  and  afternoon.  He  says :  '  We  have  just 
got  what  we  want.  We  have  talked  the  matter 
(of  having  service  at  headquarters)  over  many 
times,  and  have  made  efforts  to  have  this  end  ac- 
complished. Burnside  tried  it,  and  sent  off  for 
ministers,  but  the  services  never  succeeded  in 
awakening  interest.  Now  we  have  the  very  thing 
we  want,  and  we  mean  to  keep  it.  Soldiers  are 
becoming  most  deeply  interested  themselves  at 
all  our  stations,  and  I  believe  that  we  have  never 
had  so  much  encouragement  to  work.'  '' 

Several  weeks  after  this  letter  was  written  an 
attack  of  typhoid  fever  was  brought  on  by  his 
tireless  labours,  and  Mr.  Miller  lay  for  some  time 
in  the  hospital  at  Washington.  The  only  hint 
of  this  illness  in  the  notebook  kept  by  him  during 
the  campaign  with  the  Commission  is  given  thus : 

*'  A  sweet  little  Scotch  girl  came  every  day  into 
my  chamber  with  a  bunch  of  flowers,  or  a  cup  of 
nice  tea,  or  a  whole  miniature  tray  of  delicacies 
for  me,  or — if  nothing  else — always  with  a  sweet 
smile  on  her  face,  a  look  of  encouragement  and 
cheer,  and  a  tender,  sympathising  word.  I  always 
longed  for  her  coming,  and  believe  that  she  did 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION     27 

more  to  cure  me  than  my  physician.  Her  sweet, 
winning  ways  were  made  donbly  so  by  her  native 
Scotch  manners,  her  broad  accent,  her  captivating 
frankness,  and  her  choice  little  delicacies.  I  shall 
always  remember  that  gentle  tap  on  my  chamber 
door,  after  a  stealthy,  velvet-slippered  pit-a-pat 
through  the  hall,  and  then  the  slow,  quiet  open- 
ing of  the  door,  and  the  little  face  with  bright, 
sparkling  eyes,  and  smiling  lips  peeping  in,  as 
if  half  fearful  to  enter,  and  then  the  tiny  little 
creature  with  the  gifts  of  flowers  or  luxuries  from 
the  table,  gliding  up  to  my  bedside.  Ah,  what  is 
dearer  than  a  sweet  child !  I  love  the  simple  prat- 
tle and  the  innocent  mirth  and  the  unaffected 
frankness  of  a  child." 


Soon  after  leaving  the  hospital,  on  October  25, 
1865,  Mr.  Miller  was  appointed  General  Field 
Agent,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland.   He  wrote  in  his  journal : 

*  *  I  left  Pittsburgh  November  10  to  take  charge 
of  my  field,  and,  stopping  for  a  few  days  in  Cin- 
cinnati to  make  arrangements  for  my  work,  I 
passed  on  to  Crab  Orchard,  Kentucky.  Here 
transportation  was  wanting,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  way  had  to  be  made  on  foot.  It  was  still  one 
hundred  and  sixty  miles  to  Knoxville,  over  a 
mountain  road  of  terrible  muddiness,  and  one 
which  was  in  many  places  next  to  impassable.  I 
started,  however,  and  reached  Barboursville  only 
to  learn  that  Knoxville  was  besieged,  and  that  my 
further  progress  was  stopped.  Waiting  there  a 
few  days  I  passed  on  to  Cumberland  Gap,  de- 
layed there  a  week,  and  reached  Ejioxville  at  last 


28       THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

on  December  10,  one  month  after  leaving  Pitts- 
burgh.'' 

On  December  15,  1863,  he  wrote  further  of  his 
activities ; 

**  I  find  in  the  city  at  present  about  seventeen 
hundred  sick  and  wounded.  All  the  hotels, 
churches  and  other  public  buildings,  besides  sev- 
eral private  dwellings,  are  occupied  as  hospitals. 
I  have  visited  most  of  these  and  find  there  con- 
ditions as  good  as  could  be  expected  under  the 
circumstances,  but  there  is  still  a  great  want  of 
sufficient  food  and  clothing.  The  army,  during 
and  before  the  siege,  made  such  demands  upon 
the  subsistence  of  the  country,  that  the  citizens 
cannot  do  much.  I  trust  we  shall  be  able  to  bring 
these  gallant  fellows  many  of  the  comforts  of 
home.  They  are  worthy,  and  will  not  be  forgotten 
by  the  kind  and  generous  ones  who  are  working 
for  the  soldiers." 

In  January,  1864,  he  wrote : 

**  The  opening  of  the  month  found  me  on  a 
Tennessee  river  steamboat  at  Chattanooga,  await- 
ing its  departure  to  return  to  my  field.  I  had  with 
me  a  small  supply  of  stores  and  a  delegate,  Eev. 
William  Gaston,  of  East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  .  .  . 
Our  boat  was  without  accommodations,  and  we 
found  ourselves  poorly  prepared  to  endure  the 
violent  storms  and  most  bitter  cold  of  many  years. 
We  left  Chattanooga  on  New  Year's  evening,  and 
reached  London  Sabbath  morning. ' ' 

Next  day  he  reached  Knoxville,  where  he  opened 
rooms  and  commenced  distribution  of  the  scanty 
supplies  available. 


.WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION    29 

On  January  18,  Mr.  Gaston  left  for  home,  his 
term  of  service  having  expired,  and  Mr.  Miller 
was  alone  for  a  week. 

^  ^  I  felt  discouraged.  Day  after  day  closed  with 
a  heavy  heart  and  an  unsatisfied  spirit.  On  Sab- 
bath morning  my  heart  was  gladdened  by  the  re- 
ception of  a  telegram  from  London,  stating  that 
stores  and  two  delegates  would  reach  Knoxville 
by  the  evening  train.  Never  was  news  more 
welcome.  My  heart  was  rejoiced  and  my  hopes 
brightened.  The  train  came  and  brought  two  min- 
isterial delegates.  .    .    . 

^'  Early  in  the  month  I  made  application  for  a 
church  which  I  found  unoccupied,  intending  to 
have  it  fitted  up  as  a  soldiers'  chapel.  It  was  a 
Methodist  church,  formerly,  and  was  occupied  by 
the  congregation  till  the  time  of  the  siege.  Then 
it  was  taken  in  some  irregular  way  as  barracks, 
and  when  again  left  vacant  after  the  siege,  was 
in  a  terribly  filthy  condition.  On  the  26th  I  ob- 
tained permission  to  fit  it  up  as  a  chapel,  and 
incidentally  got  a  squad  of  prisoners  and  went  to 
work  at  cleaning  it.  By  Sabbath  I  had  it  in  tolera- 
bly good  condition,  and  on  Sabbath  morning 
(31st)  it  was  opened  for  divine  service  and  re- 
dedicated  to  God.  The  attendance  was  respect- 
ful and  encouraging.  ...  A  daily  prayer  meet- 
ing was  appointed  at  1 :30  p.m.  each  day. ' ' 

The  work  during  February  was  sadly  inter- 
rupted by  the  departure  of  delegates  who  had 
served  their  appointed  time,  and  the  arrival  of 
others  to  take  their  places.  But  Mr.  Miller  knew 
how  to  inspire  green  workers.     Within  a  few 


30      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

days  after  the  arrival  of  delegates  from  the  North, 
they  were,  in  most  cases,  doing  effective  work. 
This  month  a  new  department  of  activity  became 
popular  with  the  soldiers : 

*^  In  our  room  a  writing  table  sufficient  to  ac- 
commodate twenty  or  thirty  men  has  been  fitted 
up,  and  paper,  envelopes,  pens  and  ink  constantly 
supplied.  From  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  to 
two  hundred  letters  are  written  daily.  In  our 
reading  room  files  are  kept  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Cin- 
cinnati, Louisville,  Nashville  and  New  York 
dailies,  besides  the  magazines  and  miscellaneous 
periodicals.  No  one  can  realise  the  value  and 
importance  of  these  facilities  to  the  soldiers  till 
he  has  some  experience  of  the  privation  of  army 
life.  .    .    .  Our  rooms  are  always  crowded. 


77 


On  March  1  a  station  was  opened  at  London,  not 
far  from  Knoxville.  A  humorous  incident  of  the 
work  there  was  included  in  the  journal ; 


n 


The  room  assigned  to  us  for  a  reading  room 
had  been  previously  used  by  a  band  of  minstrels 
for  a  concert  room.  When  we  took  possession  of 
it,  they  erected  their  tents  close  by,  and  carried 
on  their  performances.  For  several  nights  they 
had  some  success,  but  soon  their  former  crowds 
diminished  till  the  concerts  were  almost  deserted. 
The  reason  was  that  our  religious  meetings  in  the 
church  attracted  all.  After  a  week  or  so,  the  pro- 
prietor came  into  the  Commission  rooms  one 
morning  and  said :  *  We  can 't  run  these  things  to- 
gether. Your  prayer  meeting  is  drawing  away  all 
my  patrons.'    '  Well,  which  do  you  think  is  the 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION     31 

more  profitable,  the  prayer  meetings  or  your  per- 
formances? '  lie  was  asked.  *  I  like  the  fifty  cents 
mighty  well,'  he  replied.  .  .  .  However,  after 
one  other  trial  he  left  the  town,  and  donated  his 
lumber,  etc.,  to  the  Commission." 

On  April  15,  after  directing  the  opening  of  sev- 
eral of  the  stations,  and  the  advance  of  delegates 
with  supplies  to  the  front,  Mr.  Miller  left  Knox- 
ville,  expecting  to  spend  some  weeks  at  home  in 
preparation  for  licensure  at  the  June  meeting  of 
his  Presbytery.  After  Presbytery  it  was  his  pur- 
pose to  visit  the  churches  in  the  North,  present- 
ing the  work  of  the  Christian  Commission  and 
soliciting  financial  aid.  One  of  the  delegates  at 
Knoxville  wrote  of  him : 

**  He  leaves  behind  him  a  warm  host  of  friends, 
whose  unanimous  testimony  is  that  he  faithfully 
discharged  the  many  and  laborious  duties  that  de- 
volved upon  him.  The  high  estimation  in  which 
he  is  held  here  is  well  expressed  in  the  words  of 
George,  the  coloured  cook,  who  says,  *  Massa 
Miller  am  a  gemman,  ebery  inch  of  him,  from  the 
crown  ob  his  head  to  the  sole  ob  his  feet.'  " 

In  his  journal  Mr.  Miller  told  something  of  the 
difficulties  of  war-time  travel : 

**  I  took  the  cars  to  Chattanooga  and  the  train 
ran  off  the  track  near  Athens,  and  we  were  all 
tumbled  head  over  heels,  so  that  it  was  a  marvel 
anyone  escaped.  As  it  was,  however,  none  were 
killed,  though  fifteen  soldiers  were  injured;  but 
I  escaped  unhurt.    I  reached  Chattanooga  at  mid- 


32       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

night,  and  pressed  on  toward  Nashville  the  same 
night.  We  took  the  Alabama  road,  via  Decatur 
and  Athens,  thence  north  to  Nashville.  Stopped 
a  few  hours  in  Nashville,  then  moved  northward. 
Train  soon  broke  down  again,  and  we  lay  all 
night  near  Bowling  Green.  In  the  morning  we 
were  tied  on  behind  a  freight  train  and  pulled 
along  to  Cave  City.  Here  we  stopped  for  the  pur- 
pose of  visiting  Mammoth  Cave.  .  .  .  We  spent 
the  night  partly  in  the  cave,  and  returned  to  Cave 
City  Hotel  in  time  for  the  train.  Then  we  pushed 
forward  for  Louisville,  where  we  arrived  before 
night.  .  .  .  Next  day  at  noon  we  took  steamer 
for  Cincinnati.  .  .  .  Went  to  church  in  the  morn- 
ing, to  Sabbath  school  in  the  afternoon,  and 
preaching  again  in  the  evening.  .  .  .  On  Tues- 
day I  started  eastward. 

**  I  had  scarcely  reached  Pittsburgh,  however, 
when  I  was  telegraphed  for,  to  proceed  to  head- 
quarters at  once,  to  assume  direction  of  the  work 
in  General  Butler's  Department.  Thus  all  my 
fond  anticipations  were  blighted,  and  I  went  away 
to  the  field  again.  The  Pittsburgh  Committee 
made  a  most  strenuous  effort  to  have  the  order 
countermanded,  but  to  no  effect.  I  must  go,  and 
at  once.  I  reported  accordingly  in  Philadelphia 
on  April  25,  and  left  after  a  few  hours'  consulta- 
tion for  Baltimore  and  Fortress  Monroe." 


Then  began  some  of  the  most  important  work 
of  Mr.  Miller's  service.  He  was  sent  to  the  front 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  directed  the 
delegates — ^who  were  now  available  in  large  num- 
bers— for  service  in  camp,  on  the  field  of  battle, 
and  in  the  hospital.    A  station  was  established 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION     33 

very  early  in  May  at  Bermuda  Hundred.  This 
was  for  work  in  General  Butler's  army.  There 
were  two  hospitals  here,  and  a  number  of  batteries 
without  chaplains.  At  Point  of  Rocks,  four  miles 
up  the  Appomatox,  a  hospital  was  erected  which 
remained  throughout  the  war.  From  Bermuda 
Hundred,  the  wounded  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry 
were  visited,  and  large  quantities  of  stores  dis- 
tributed to  them.  When  the  Eighteenth  Infantry 
went  to  White  Horse  Landing,  Mr.  Miller  and 
his  corps  of  delegates  accompanied  them,  estab- 
lishing the  station  which  did  so  much  to  relieve 
the  wounded. 

A  vivid  paragraph  was  written  at  Cold  Har- 
bour, where  fifteen  thousand  men  were  cut  down 
in  fifteen  minutes : 

**  Our  delegates  all  went  to  work  at  once,  and 
that  right  earnestly.  I  divided  them  off  into  sev- 
eral companies.  One  company  was  to  carry  water 
and  wood,  and  keep  up  fires,  another  to  prepare 
cornstarch,  soup,  lemonade,  etc.,  another  to  carry 
these  articles  to  the  men,  another  to  write  letters 
and  converse  with  the  dying.  And  thus  the  work 
began  and  went  on  during  the  whole  day.  The 
next  day  was  Sabbath,  and  it  came  upon  the  earth 
in  all  its  beauty  and  sacredness.  I  rose  early. 
The  sun  was  just  above  the  horizon,  and  the  first 
beams  of  morning  were  still  struggling  through 
the  trees.  The  birds  were  singing  sweetly,  the 
air  was  moist  and  dewy,  and  everything  was  still 
and  hushed,  as  it  used  to  be  at  home  on  the  blessed 
Sabbath.  For  once  the  deadly  instruments  of  war 
were  hushed,  and  it  seemed  like  a  Sabbath  morn 


34       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

of  peace.  But  a  few  rods  from  where  I  stood  lay 
some  two  thousand  mangled  men,  suffering,  some 
of  them  dying,  while  almost  at  my  feet  was  a  big 
open  trench,  and  at  its  edge  lay  eight  or  ten  dead 
bodies  ready  for  interment.  Soon  the  shrill  crack 
of  the  pickets'  rifle  bursts  on  my  ear,  the  cannon 
thunders  off  at  the  left,  and  all  the  illusions  of 
a  moment  since  are  dispelled.  It  is  still  Sabbath 
morn,  but  a  Sabbath  morn  of  blood.  And  it  rises 
upon  us  in  the  midst  of  a  bloody  battle  field,  with 
carnage,  death  and  war  all  around. 

"  Monday  afternoon,  June  6,  we  had  a  brisk 
shelling.  The  villainous  things  shrieked  and  ex- 
ploded over  us  and  all  around  us.  It  was  hot 
enough  for  an  old  soldier,  and  went  rather  roughly 
with  certain  newer  ones.  Two  batteries  were 
opened  in  the  spot  occupied  by  our  hospital — one 
hurled  its  shot  and  shell  from  the  right,  another 
from  the  left.  It  was  a  serious  enough  matter 
that  afternoon,  but  now  in  my  quiet  I  can  see  the 
ridiculousness  of  some  of  the  scenes  I  beheld.  A 
chaplain  had  been  stopping  with  us  since  we 
pitched  there  and  had  been  quite  sick,  unable  to 
leave  his  cot  of  fir  boughs  under  our  flag.  As 
soon  as  the  shells  began  to  whiz  and  burst  around 
our  tent,  he  straightway  brightened  up,  for  the 
time  forgetting  his  sickness,  and  was  soon  en  route 
for  a  distant  part  of  the  woods  where  safety 
might  be  found.  In  his  haste  he  left  his  coat  and 
valuable  books  and  papers.  Next  day  he  returned, 
but  his  memories  were  still  vivid,  and  he  tarried 
but  briefly,  saying  nothing  about  being  sick. 

'*  All  our  delegates  but  one  left  for  parts  un- 
known. The  woods  soon  covered  their  line  of  re- 
treat, and  shut  them  away  from  danger.  After 
the  shelling  had  ceased  they  gathered  back  to  the 
tent  one  by  one,  till  all  but  two  returned.    Their 


WITH  THE  CHEISTIAN  COMMISSION    35 

stories  were  amusing.  Two  positively  affirmed 
that  they  had  no  regard  for  themselves,  but  they 
felt  bound  to  seek  their  safety  on  account  and  for 
the  sake  of  their  wives  and  children.  One  or  two 
confessed  frankly  that  they  did  not  like  to  be  shot 
at,  and  deemed  discretion  the  better  part  of 
valour.  Only  one  had  courage  enough  to  stay  with 
me  till  morning,  while  all  the  rest  went  back  two 
miles  to  another  camp  hospital.  When  morning 
came  two  went  straight  to  White  Horse,  resolved 
to  find  a  place  where  they  could  be  free  from  the 
terrible  scorching  of  rebel  shells.  A  tall  rock  on 
the  crest  of  the  hill  had  to  shield  a  number  of 
boys  from  real  or  supposed  danger.  They  formed 
a  line  for  twenty  or  thirty  yards  behind  it,  and 
just  as  the  direction  of  the  coming  shell  seemed 
to  them,  so  they  shifted.  When  a  shell  came  from 
the  right,  the  whole  pendulumlike  column  swung 
to  the  left,  and  vice  versa/' 

Delegates  and  stores  reached  City  Point  June 
15.  A  station  was  at  once  established  which  existed 
for  more  than  a  year.  Here  some  of  the  most 
strenuous  work  of  the  campaign  was  carried  on 
by  the  Commission.  Mr.  Miller  was  active  here 
as  well  as  at  Point  of  Eocks.  Of  his  work  at  the 
latter  place  he  wrote,  under  date  of  August  31, 
1864,  a  report  that  gives  a  splendid  glimpse  of 
the  activities  at  a  busy  station. 

n  There  are  now  about  two  thousand  patients 
in  the  hospital.  Our  establishment  here  consists 
of  one  chapel  tent  for  storeroom,  one  chapel  flag 
for  sleeping  tent,  one  for  religious  services,  one 
wall  tent  for  warehouse  and  one  for  office.  I  have 
only  eight  delegates  at  present,  though  I  should 


36      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

have  at  least  ten.  Here  is  my  mode  of  work  in 
the  corps  and  hospitals.  Early  in  the  morning 
six  or  seven  delegates  go  in  a  two-horse  wagon 
to  the  front,  carrying  with  them  a  good  quantity 
of  reading  matter  and  hospital  stores, — for  every 
regiment  has  a  number  of  patients  in  its  regi- 
mental hospital.  These  delegates  all  spend  the 
whole  forenoon  in  one  or  two  brigades,  taking  the 
troops  in  their  order  on  the  line.  They  aim  to 
see  every  man  as  they  go,  and  either  give  him 
something  or  speak  a  kind  word  to  him.  This 
^  front  '  work  I  deem  very  important,  even  when 
we  have  the  hospital  work,  and  I  have  always 
aimed  to  keep  it  up  as  regularly  as  practicable. 

*'  We  have  dinner  at  half-past  twelve.  From 
noon  till  half-past  two  are  resting  hours.  From 
half-past  two  till  half-past  five  they  spend  in  the 
hospital.  Each  delegate  has  four  or  five  wards. 
During  this  visit  no  services  are  held.  The  delegate 
passes  through  his  wards,  speaking  a  word  to 
every  man,  and  relieving  his  wants,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, but  making  the  visit  as  far  as  practicable 
a  pastoral  one.  After  tea,  he  holds  a  brief  reli- 
gious service  in  each  ward,  and  this  closes  the 
day's  labours.  The  work  goes  on  thus  from  day 
to  day,  and  a  more  delightful  success  could  not  be 
expected.  All  the  delegates  are  in  the  best  of 
spirits,  and  all  are  hard  workers.  At  night  all 
are  weary,  and  sleep  is  welcome,  but  morning  finds 
all  refreshed,  and  ready  and  anxious  to  begin  a 
new  day's  labours.  At  the  front,  on  this  part  of 
the  line,  there  is  no  picket  firing,  so  that  we  can 
visit  every  part  of  the  line  safely,  and  see  the 
men  at  their  work.  This  adds  greatly  to  our 
work,  and  enables  us  to  make  it  complete  and  thor- 
ough. It  is  my  aim  to  have  every  regiment  visited 
at  least  once  each  week." 


WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION    37 

The  campaign  closed  for  Mr.  Miller  in  Septem- 
ber, when  he  was  made  General  Field  Agent  in  the 
Shenandoah.  He  reached  his  new  field  September 
19,  the  day  the  Battle  of  Winchester  was  fought. 
There,  in  the  midst  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  the 
young  Field  Agent  entered  the  final  stages  of  his 
services  for  the  Christian  Commission. 


AT  THE  FEONT 


A  very  little  love  for  our  neighbour  wrought  out  in  a  bit 
of  everyday  kindness  is  worth  a  great  deal  of  talk  about  love 
which  finds  no  expression  in  act. — From  ^'Letting  God  In" 
in  "Finding  the  Way" 

Fill  the  day  with  love.  Forget  yourself  and  think  of  others. 
If  there  is  a  call  for  kindness,  show  the  kindness  now,  to-day  j 
it  may  be  too  late  to-morrow.  If  a  heart  hungers  for  a 
word  of  appreciation,  of  commendation,  of  cheer,  of  encour- 
agement, say  the  word  to-day.  The  trouble  with  too  many 
people  is  that  they  fill  the  day  with  neglects,  with  postpone- 
ments, with  omissions,  with  idle  words  and  idle  silence.  We 
do  not  realise  vividly  enough  that  there  are  many  things 
which  if  not  done  to-day  need  not  be  done  at  all.  If  we  have 
slept  through  the  hours  when  duty  waited,  we  may  as  well 
then  sleep  on. — From  " Guarding  Our  Trust"  in  " A  Heart 
Garden" 


CHAPTEE  III 

AT  THE  FRONT 
(Sept.  19, 1864,  to  April  1, 1865) 

From  the  beginning  of  his  work  in  the  Christian 
Commission,  Field  Agent  Miller  did  his  best  to 
persuade  the  delegates  to  leave  with  him  full  reo- 
ords  of  their  work.  He  even  prepared  a  large 
notebook,  on  the  cover  of  which  he  wrote  the 
request : 

**  Delegates  will  please  note  all  incidents  of 
their  work  in  this  book.  Also  full  reports  before 
leaving. ' ' 

In  a  few  instances  the  request  was  observed,  but 
evidently  most  of  the  men  were  too  weary  when 
they  felt  free  to  seek  their  rough  beds  to  do  any- 
thing but  go  to  sleep.  The  book  devoted  to  them 
would  have  been  sadly  neglected  but  for  Mr.  Mil- 
ler's own  observation  and  reports.  He  was  as 
weary  as  the  delegates  when  night  came — proba- 
bly more  weary,  for  during  his  service  in  the  army 
he  was  as  unceasingly  active  as  in  his  later  life. 
Yet  he  would  remain  at  his  table  hours  after 
others  were  sleeping,  writing  his  story.  On  No- 
vember 16,  1869,  he  said : 

41 


42       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

^^  Nearly  midnight,  and  around  me  thickly 
packed  in  layers  on  the  floor  the  rest  of  the  ^  fam- 
ily '  are  sleeping,  while  I  have  been  drudging  all 
night  through  piles  of  letters,  stereotyped  business 
sheets,  trying  to  get  square  with  life  and  my  work. 
As  the  finale  I  wrote  a  long  letter  to  mo7i  cher 
ami  Crammond  Kennedy,  away  in  Scotland.  I 
was  to  have  gone  with  him  over  the  water,  had 
not  the  meshes  of  duty  to  my  country  and  human- 
ity so  entangled  me  that  I  could  not  escape  from 
the  army." 

In  these  records,  written  while  others  slept,  it 
is  noteworthy  that  he  gave  full  credit  to  the  dele- 
gates, speaking  of  them  in  the  highest  terms  if 
he  could,  passing  over  their  faults  and  failures 
without  a  word  when  this  was  possible,  and  mak- 
ing excuses  for  them  when  it  was  necessary  to 
make  some  reference  to  their  shortcomings.  Per- 
haps the  bitterest  comment  he  permitted  himself 
concerning  a  delegate  was  written  after  trying 
experiences  with  **  a  very  bright  and  fascinating 
young  man,  who  has  occupied  a  full-sized  dele- 
gate's place  in  bed  and  boarding  houses,  but  who 
has  not  done  very  much  of  a  delegate's  work 
.  .  .  one  of  two  young  gentlemen,  who  look  for 
all  the  world  like  a  flower  pot.  He  had  a  pretty 
face,  a  fine  coat,  a  clean  shirt,  polished  boots, 
smoothly  combed  hair,  a  bewitching  smile,  a  grace- 
ful bow,  a  smooth  tongue,  a  neat  hand,  a  gentle 
voice,  and  was  altogether  decidedly  Frenchy,  ar- 
tistic.'' Then  followed  a  sentence  in  which  Mr. 
Miller,  who  was  already  showing  the  passion  for 


AT  THE  FEONT  43 

service  that  later  made  him  so  remarkable,  re- 
vealed his  attitude  to  life,  '^  But  I  always  liked 
the  bee  better  than  the  butterfly."  This  is  the 
only  reference  in  his  notes  to  such  a  butterfly; 
there  was  too  much  to  be  said  of  the  bees  in  his 
reports. 

The  monthly  reports  of  the  activities  of  his  de- 
partment were  made  up  from  the  daily  records. 
These  reports  are  accurate  and  complete.  A  num- 
ber of  them  are  quoted  in  the  records  of  the  Chris- 
tian Commission.  The  largest  of  those  thus  se- 
lected for  preservation  was  written  at  the  close  of 
his  first  quarter's  service  with  the  Army  of  the 
Shenandoah.  Those  who  would  read  a  vivid  story 
of  the  work  at  the  front  of  the  heroes  of  the  Com- 
mission should  study  this  document  as  it  is  given 
in  the  full  in  the  volume  of  annual  reports  of  the 
organisation.  Generous  portions  are  quoted  here, 
not  only  because  of  the  glimpses  they  give  of  Mr. 
Miller's  work  in  the  last  year  of  the  war,  but  also 
because  they  clearly  reveal  so  much  of  the  ripen- 
ing character  of  the  thoughtful,  diligent,  humble 
writer. 

The  paper  is  dated  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1864,  and  begins : 

**  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  the  following  re- 
port of  the  operations  of  the  Christian  Commis- 
sion in  this  field,  from  the  organisation  of  the 
department,  in  September,  till  the  close  of  the 
year.  The  impossibility  of  keeping  full  records 
during  the  hurried  work  of  organising,  while  an 


44      THE  LIFE  OP  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

active  campaign  was  in  progress,  will  account  for 
any  deficiencies  in  the  first  part  of  my  report." 

After  speaking  of  his  arrival  at  Sandy  Hook, 
Maryland,  on  September  19,  he  says : 


<< 


Both  difficulties  and  dangers  attended  the  for- 
warding of  supplies  and  delegates  to  the  field  for 
the  sufferers  at  Winchester.  The  railroad  from 
Harper's  Ferry  to  Winchester  was  destroyed. 
Guerrillas  infested  the  country  in  search  of  plun- 
der. We  had  to  hire  poor  wagons  and  teams,  until 
good  ones  could  be  purchased  and  sent  to  us.  The 
difficulties  were  overcome,  the  dangers  did  not  stop 
us.  Our  wagons,  supplies  and  delegates  were  has- 
tened forward,  and  reached  the  front  in  safety. 

**  Arriving  at  Winchester,  a  room  was  secured, 
where  the  stores  were  deposited,  while  the  wagons 
went  back  immediately  for  more  supplies.  In  two 
days  we  again  went  forward  with  two  wagonloads 
of  choicest  hospital  stores,  and  with  a  reenforce- 
ment  of  ten  delegates.  This  second  supply  I  ac- 
companied myself.  I  at  once  visited  all  the  hos- 
pitals, and  reported  to  all  the  different  surgeons 
in  charge  that  we  had  a  band  of  workers  who  had 
come  to  do  their  part  in  caring  for  the  brave  suf- 
ferers. In  every  instance  the  proffered  aid  was 
gratefully  accepted.  To  many  of  these  officers,  as 
well  as  to  their  men,  the  Christian  Commission 
was  almost  unknown.  The  Sixth  Corps  had 
served  long  in  the  Potomac  army,  and,  of  course, 
had  met  the  Commission  in  every  camp  and  field 
since  its  organisation.  But  the  Nineteenth  Corps 
had  known  but  little  of  our  operations  previously 
to  this  campaign.  And  the  Eighth  Corps,  having 
been  serving  in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia 


AT  THE  FEONT  45 

mainly,  knew  but  little  of  us.  However,  every 
facility  was  granted  us,  and  with  no  ceremony, 
our  ten  delegates,  fresh  from  home,  and  anxious 
to  do  all  in  their  power  to  alleviate  suffering,  went 
to  work.  Since  that  time,  we  have  had  a  great 
and  uninterrupted  work  at  Winchester. 

^^  The  battle  of  September  19th  was  a  most  im- 
portant one.  Previously  to  the  campaign  that  so 
auspiciously  opened  with  this  engagement,  the 
Valley  of  the  Shenandoah  had  indeed  been  our 
*  valley  of  humiliation.'  There  we  had  suffered 
defeat  after  defeat,  and  the  brave  men  who  had 
fallen  on  many  disastrous  battle  fields,  lay  scat- 
tered over  every  portion  of  the  valley.  But  the 
19th  was  a  new  day  in  the  history  of  our  military 
operations  in  this  section.  Instead  of  constant 
and  disastrous  defeat,  we  now  entered  on  a  series 
of  as  brilliant  successes  as  have  marked  the  his- 
tory of  any  army  of  similar  power  and  strength 
since  the  war  began.  Morning  saw  the  enemy, 
proud,  defiant,  and  confident, — anight  found  him 
routed,  reduced  in  numbers  by  many  thousands, 
flying  in  disorder,  leaving  the  machinery  of  war, 
and  the  debris  of  battle  scattered  all  along  his 
path.  The  victory  was  complete,  overwhelming, 
and  destructive;  and  the  news  that  went  to  the 
world  thrilled  loyal  hearts  everywhere  with  joy. 
But  victory  always  costs  something;  always 
leaves  sad  wrecks  behind ;  amid  the  shouts  of  the 
victors  on  the  field  are  heard  the  groans  and  wails 
of  the  dying;  and  with  the  rejoicings  at  home  over 
the  news  of  victory,  there  are  always  mingled 
the  throbs  of  saddened  hearts ;  for  loved  ones  fall 
on  every  field  of  strife,  and  every  battle  sends 
sadness  and  desolation  to  many  homes. 

**  The  battle  of  the  19th  was  bloody.  Hundreds 
of  brave  men  fell  to  rise  no  more,  and  several 


46      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

thousands  were  wounded.  The  sufferings  for 
many  days  were  very  great.  In  addition  to  our 
own  wounded,  there  were  two  thousand  of  the 
enemy ^s  wounded  left  in  our  hands.  These  were 
collected  in  distinct  hospitals,  with  their  own  sur- 
geons and  nurses ;  yet  they  demanded  care  at  our 
hands,  on  the  principle — '  If  thine  enemy  hunger, 
feed  him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  to  drink.'  The 
great  number  of  friends  that  these  rebel  wounded 
have  in  the  city  of  Winchester  and  the  scarcity  of 
the  friends  of  the  Union  made  it  certain  that  as 
far  as  help  from  citizens  was  concerned,  the  rebels 
would  fare  much  better  than  our  own  men,  and  on 
this  account  I  directed  that  the  principal  efforts 
of  our  delegates,  at  the  first,  should  be  on  behalf 
of  our  own  men.  However,  one  delegate  was  ap- 
pointed to  visit  the  rebel  hospitals  daily,  to  supply 
them  with  reading  matter,  Testaments,  papers, 
etc.,  and  in  cases  adjudged  really  needful,  to  sup- 
ply also  small  quantities  of  hospital  stores. 

**  The  scene  presented  after  the  battle  was  truly 
a  heart-rending  one.  Winchester  was  literally  one 
vast  hospital.  All  the  churches  and  other  public 
buildings  were  filled;  while  almost  every  private 
house  had  its  quota  of  wounded  and  bleeding  sol- 
diers. There  have  been  but  few  times  since  the 
war  began  when  there  was  greater  need  of  ex- 
ternal relief.  There  was  nothing  left  in  the  coun- 
try; the  government  supplies  were  all  back;  the 
nearest  base  was  Harper's  Ferry,  over  thirty 
miles  distant;  and  the  intervening  country  was 
overrun  with  guerrillas,  so  that  nothing  could  go 
forward  safely,  unless  under  the  protection  of  a 
strong  military  escort.  I  cannot  pass  over  this 
period  without  bearing  testimony  to  the  noble 
and  self-sacrificing  labours  of  the  loyal  ladies  of 
Winchester.    When  they  saw  the  brave  defenders 


C/3 

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AT  THE  FEONT  47 

of  the  old  flag,  which  they  still  so  dearly  loved, 
stricken  down  in  the  streets  of  their  city,  they 
at  once  entered  on  their  work  of  mercy,  and  ceased 
not  till  all  the  brave  men  were  made  comfortable. 
They  shared  their  last  morsel  with  them;  they 
washed,  and  dressed,  and  cheered  the  weary  suf- 
ferers, and  bent  over  the  dying  to  catch  their  last 
whispered  message  to  dear  ones  far  away.  There 
are  a  few  names  in  Winchester  which  will  go  down 
into  history  garlanded  with  honours,  and  coupled 
with  deeds  of  heroism  and  magnanimity. 

^  *  The  world  will  never  know  the  nature,  value, 
or  importance  of  the  work  performed  in  the  hos- 
pitals by  our  delegates.  It  was  a  quiet,  unosten- 
tatious work  of  mercy.  Entering  on  their  labours 
there  in  a  time  of  greatest  suffering,  they  worked 
by  day  and  by  night  among  the  wounded  thou- 
sands, washing,  dressing,  feeding,  praying  with 
the  dying,  burying  the  dead,  and  calling  upon  the 
living  to  repent  and  be  saved.  It  is  now  nearly 
three  months  and  a  half  since  the  work  began,  but 
it  is  not  yet  ended.  During  this  time,  ^ve  hundred 
men  have  died  in  these  hospitals ;  several  thousand 
have  been  transferred  to  other  hospitals;  while 
several  hundred  still  remain. 

**  As  soon  as  the  railroad  was  restored,  Martins- 
burg  became  a  place  of  great  importance  to  our 
work.  Almost  every  wagon  train  from  the  front 
brought  down  two,  three,  or  ^ve  hundred  men  on 
their  way  to  the  hospitals  of  Baltimore  and  other 
cities.  During  the  first  few  weeks,  these  men  were 
taken,  as  soon  as  they  arrived,  into  the  churches 
and  other  public  buildings,  from  the  wagons,  and 
there  remained  till  the  following  afternoon.  ^  It 
is  twenty-two  miles  from  Winchester  to  Martins- 
burg.  And  over  all  this  distance,  in  hard  army 
wagons,  over  rough  roads,  with  no  beds,  or  even 


48      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

straw  to  lie  upon,  and  with  no  rest,  and  nothing 
to  eat  by  the  way,  these  poor,  mangled  men  had 
to  travel.  We  were  always  apprised  of  their  com- 
ing an  hour  or  more  before  they  began  to  arrive, 
and  large  camp-kettles  full  of  water  were  placed 
over  the  fire,  and  soon  forty  or  fifty  gallons  of 
tea  were  ready.  Then,  with  tea,  crackers,  cheese, 
meats  and  fruits,  our  delegates  hurried  about 
from  place  to  place,  till  all  were  fed.  Then  came 
the  bathing,  and  washing,  and  dressing,  and  it 
was  usually  well-nigh  morning  before  all  was 
done;  but  after  a  night's  hard  labour  our  dele- 
gates have  always  felt  amply  repaid  for  their  toil 
in  the  gratitude  of  many  noble  hearts.  In  the 
morning  the  same  routine  began  again;  and  at 
noon  the  brave  fellows  were  placed  in  the  cars 
for  another  long,  hard  ride ;  and  our  last  act  was 
always  to  make  them  as  comfortable  as  possible 
on  their  hard  beds  on  the  cars. 

**  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  the  noble 
ladies  of  Martinsburg,  and  their  deeds  of  benevo- 
lence performed  toward  our  suffering  soldiers  dur- 
ing the  campaign.  The  many  men  who  have  from 
time  to  time  lain  in  the  hospitals  of  Martinsburg 
will  always  remember  with  gratitude  the  loyal 
people  who  so  gladly  and  so  freely  shared  with 
them  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  their  own 
homes. 

*^  During  the  campaign  the  twofold  object  of 
the  Christian  Commission  has  been  kept  steadily 
in  view.  While  caring  for  the  body,  and  labour- 
ing to  alleviate  bodily  sufferings,  we  have  aimed  to 
lose  no  opportunity  to  speak  a  word  for  Jesus. 
We  have  always  borne  in  mind  that  our  soldiers 
are  beings  for  immortality;  and,  in  going  from 
cot  to  cot,  among  thousands,  our  delegates  have 
not  failed  to  remind  them,  if  but  by  a  hastily 


AT  THE  FRONT  49 

spoken  word,  that  they  have  interests  far  higher 
than  those  of  time.  Prayer  meetings  and  other 
brief  religious  services  have  been  regularly  held 
in  all  our  hospitals;  and  a  quiet,  but  powerful, 
work  of  grace  has  been  constantly  moving  for- 
ward. 

**  The  only  station  of  the  Commission  in  opera- 
tion, in  the  department,  at  the  opening  of  the  cam- 
paign, was  the  one  at  Sandy  Hook.  To-day  we 
are  represented  at  Sandy  Hook,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Martinsburg,  Cumberland,  Beverly,  Stevenson's 
Station,  Winchester,  and  at  the  front,  four  miles 
south  of  Winchester.  At  that  time  we  had  but 
two  delegates  in  the  field.  During  the  campaign 
over  eighty  have  been  enrolled,  who,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, have  laboured  faithfully  and  diligently 
in  the  service  of  our  Master. ' ' 

The  admirable  report  closes  with  this  para- 
graph : 

*  *  Our  plans  for  the  winter  contemplate  the  erec- 
tion of  chapels  in  every  camp,  so  that  all  may  have 
an  opportunity  to  hear  the  gospel;  the  establish- 
ment of  libraries  in  reach  of  all  who  desire  to 
read;  the  organisation  of  prayer  meetings;  and 
the  distribution  of  Testaments,  papers,  books, 
tracts,  etc.,  everywhere.  The  field  is  ready  and  in- 
viting, the  harvest  promises  to  be  plenteous,  and 
we  ask  for  the  reapers.  Many  thousands  who  now 
ask  for  the  Word  of  life,  in  one  year  hence  will 
sleep  quietly  beneath  the  sod.  The  time  for  work 
is  now.  We  ask  for  grace  to  begin  the  new  year 
with  renewed  zeal,  and  to  enable  us  to  do  more  in 
the  future  than  in  the  past." 

An  editor  of  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette  visited  Har- 
per's Ferry  in  February,  1865.     In  his  leading 


50       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

editorial  on  February  13,  after  speaking  of  the 
workers,  lie  said : 

"  The  General  Field  Agent  is  Mr.  J.  R.  Miller, 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  a  man  of  in- 
defatigable industry  and  fine  administrative  abil- 
ities. A  nobler  or  more  generous  man  we  never 
met ;  and  if  we  were  to  relate  even  what  fell  under 
our  observation  of  his  deeds  of  substantial  kind- 
ness to  all  around  him,  but  especially  to  a  be- 
reaved and  sorrow-stricken  woman,  and  at  serious 
expense  to  himself,  our  language  would  be  thought 
extravagant. 

^^  The  headquarters  is  a  decent  *  shanty  '  con- 
taining three  rooms  and  a  little  kitchen.  There 
they  live  and  labour  and  hold  their  nightly  meet- 
ings for  religious  worship.  The  soldiers  are  al- 
ways coming  and  going,  and  here  they  congregate 
every  evening  to  sing  and  pray,  and  discuss  their 
joys  or  sorrows.  Here  they  often  linger  to  talk 
or  sing  together  of  those  better  things  which  only 
true  believers  realise  and  understand.  .  .  .  Dur- 
ing the  present  winter  hundreds  of  soldiers  have 
become  earnest  Christian  men  at  Harper's  Ferry 
and  in  the  camp  around.  Even  the  delegates 
themselves  are  astonished  and  delighted  at  the 
progress  of  the  work.  But  it  is  not  more  than 
might  be  expected ;  for  probably  nothing  has  been 
so  much  like  the  work  of  the  great  Master  himself 
as  this  work  of  which  we  are  speaking.'' 

Always  extremely  modest  and  unassuming,  Mr. 
Miller  said  nothing  of  his  part  in  persuading  the 
soldiers  about  him  to  give  themselves  to  Christ. 
But  it  is  certain  that  God  used  his  untiring,  sym- 
pathetic, prayerful  efforts  in  the  salvation  of  hun- 


AT  THE  FEONT  51 

dreds.  Between  the  lines  of  the  Field  Agent's  re- 
ports and  private  records  one  can  read  hints  that 
tell  how  he  was  serving  his  apprenticeship  for  the 
work  of  later  years,  that  was  to  be  so  marvellously 
blessed.  Once  he  sorrowfully  wrote  a  record  of 
failure  that  tells  how  earnest  he  was  in  seeking 
the  lost ; 

'^  I  talked  to  a  man  in  the  hospital  and  urged 
him  to  accept  the  Saviour's  gracious  offer  of 
pardon.  ^  No,'  said  he,  ^  I  have  lived  a  most  sinful 
life  for  thirty-five  years,  and  have  always  refused 
a  Saviour's  love.  I  know  what  you  tell  of  Christ 
is  true.  I  know  that  I  shall  suffer  eternal  punish- 
ment, yet  I  do  not  repent ;  but,  sir,  I  am  too  brave 
a  man  to  come  now  at  the  last  hour  and  beg  for 
pardon.  It  is  cowardice  that  drives  men  to  Christ 
when  they  are  going  to  die.  They  seek  salvation 
just  when — and  not  till — they  find  that  they  can- 
not live  in  sin  any  longer.  No,  I  will  die  as  I  have 
lived.'  And  nothing  could  overcome  his  deter- 
mination.   Before  morning  his  spirit  had  flown." 

With  what  joy  he  turned  from  a  record  like  that 
to  a  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  Christian  Com- 
mission, in  which  he  said : 

**  Again  we  have  to  thank  God  for  another 
month  of  prosperity  and  success.  Everywhere  his 
Spirit  has  been  preached  and  his  glory  advanced 
in  the  salvation  of  souls.  Such  a  great  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  amid  the  rude  and  ghastly  scenes  of 
war,  imparts  a  new  and  holy  light  to  the  cause  for 
which  we  are  struggling." 


52       THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

In  this  letter  workers  were  mentioned  by  name, 
and  much  is  said  of  their  success  as  winners  of 
souls.  Of  himself,  as  the  leader  of  the  work,  he 
said  nothing,  although  in  the  last  paragraph  he 
revealed  his  agency  in  inspiring  the  workers  in 
the  only  true  way: 

**  I  have  always  believed  that  the  secret  of  the 
greatest  success  of  preaching  the  gospel  in  the 
army  is  in  the  fact  that  the  gospel  only  is 
preached.  We  have  no  time  nor  opportunity  for 
pulpit  embellishments.  Men  are  taught  their  true 
condition,  and  told  of  the  only  Saviour.  The  per- 
sonal conversation,  the  earnest  prayer  meeting, 
the  brief  and  simple  sermon,  and  the  Bible  lesson 
are  the  means  which  God  sees  fit  to  bless.'* 

Thus  in  the  closing  month  of  the  war  Mr. 
Miller's  time  and  thought  were  largely  taken  up 
with  the  problems  to  which  he  was  to  devote  his 
life — the  problems  of  the  hearts  of  men. 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL 


Christ  is  our  Friend.  That  means  everything  we  need. 
No  want  can  be  unsupplied.  No  sorrow  can  be  uncomforted. 
No  evil  can  overmaster  us.  For  time  and  eternity  we  are 
safe.  It  will  not  be  the  streets  of  gold,  and  the  gates  of 
pearl,  and  the  river  and  the  trees,  that  will  make  heaven  for 
us — it  will  be  the  companionship,  the  friendship  of  Christ. 
.  .  .  The  consciousness  that  Christ  is  our  Friend  and  we  are 
His  should  cheek  every  evil  thought,  quell  every  bitter  feeling, 
sweeten  every  emotion,  and  make  all  our  life  holy,  true  and 
heavenly. — From  "  Christ  and  I  Are  Friends/'  in  "  The  Booh 
of  Comfort." 

How  are  we  to  find  what  our  place  in  the  universe  is,  and 
what  we  ought  to  do  with  our  life?  Does  anyone  know, 
and  can  anyone  show  us,  but  He  whose  we  are,  who  has  made 
us  and  planned  us  for  our  course?  We  see  at  once  that  if 
we  leave  God  out  of  our  life,  ignore  Him,  fail  to  recognise 
Him  as  our  Master,  seek  no  direction  and  guidance  from 
Him,  we  can  only  wreck  our  career.  The  only  ambition  in 
life  that  is  wise  and  safe  is  the  ambition  to  be  what  God 
made  us  to  be,  to  do  what  God  sent  us  into  the  world  to  do, 
to  fulfill  the  divine  purpose  for  our  life.  And  it  follows  that 
only  Christ  can  guide  us  in  choosing  our  place  and  our  work. 
— From  "  This  One  Thing  1  Do,"  in  "  A  Heart  Garden." 


CHAPTER  IV 

IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL 
(To  September,  1865) 

Mr.  Miller's  notes  of  his  life  at  ttie  front  tell  of 
many  letters  and  visits  from  anxious  mothers 
and  other  relatives  who  sought  information  of 
wounded  soldiers.  It  was  one  of  his  greatest 
pleasures  to  do  what  he  could  for  these  inquirers. 
Once  he  wrote : 

'^  I  have  never  felt  happier  than  to-day  when 
receiving  the  blessings  of  a  dear  old  Scotch 
woman,  who  came  here  to  seek  her  son.  We  have 
in  this  office  a  list  of  all  the  patients  in  the  Win- 
chester hospitals,  and  then  we  take  a  list  of  all 
who  pass  through  from  there  on  their  way  to  Balti- 
more and  other  hospitals.  We  found  that  he  had 
passed  through  two  days  since.  She  heaped  bless- 
ings on  our  heads  for  our  kindness  to  her  boy, 
for  we  had  fed  him  on  his  way  through.  Leaving 
some  gifts  for  her  other  boy  to  be  forwarded  to 
him — he  is  well  and  at  the  front — she  turned  her 
feet  to  find  the  wounded  son.'' 

Thus  the  writer  revealed  his  eagerness  to  min- 
ister to  the  sorrowing  that  was  so  characteristic 
to  the  end  of  his  life.    Another  characteristic — ■ 

55 


56       THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

Ms  ardent  love  for  children — was  shown  when  he 
wrote : 

^*  The  soldiers  who  have  lain  in  the  hospitals  at 
Martinsburg  will  never  forget  the  sweet  little  girl 
with  the  blue  eyes  and  chestnut  curls  who,  every 
day,  stole  noiselessly  to  their  cot,  having  in  her 
hand  some  little  dainty,  and  on  her  sweet  face 
a  smile  of  welcome.  She  is  not  more  than  eleven 
or  twelve,  but  womanly  beyond  her  years,  and 
possessing  a  heart  large  enough  and  good  enough 
for  a  Florence  Nightingale.  Up  bright  and  early 
in  the  first  golden  beams  of  morning,  and  with 
her  hands  laden  with  the  little  luxuries  of  home, 
away  she  trips  lightly,  gayly  to  the  hospital.  She 
hastens  noiselessly  around  through  the  rooms, 
stopping  at  the  side  of  every  weary  sufferer, 
asking  him  how  he  rested,  and  how  he  feels  this 
morning,  and  leaving  here  and  there  some  deli- 
cate morsel.  When  she  has  fuiished  her  morn- 
ing's work,  away  she  goes  to  school,  but  no  sooner 
are  her  duties  over  there  than  off  she  glides  again 
to  repeat  her  morning's  work,  and  again  at  even- 
ing she  bears  cheer  and  comfort  to  many  a  droop- 
ing heart.  She  is  tender-hearted,  and  often  drops 
a  tear  over  some  poor  sufferer,  to  see  how  sorely 
he  is  pained,  and  as  he  tells  her  of  his  home,  and 
the  dear  friends  whom  he  will  never  see  agaia.  She 
was  passing  through  a  ward  with  us  one  morning 
when  we  came  to  a  man  whose  sufferings  were 
most  agonising,  and  whose  face  was  already  pal- 
ing before  the  approach  of  death.  It  would  have 
been  a  heart  of  stone  that  could  have  looked  un- 
moved on  that  scene.  The  dear  child  laid  her 
face  in  her  hands  as  the  great  tears  flowed  from 
her  eyes.  When  we  had  left  the  hospital  she 
looked  up  through  her  still  weeping  eyes  and  said, 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL  57 

'  I  was  not  a  baby  to  cry  when  I  saw  that  poor 
man,  was  I?  '  '' 

After  reading  this  passage,  one  is  not  surprised 
to  find  this  also: 

*'  Somehow  I  can  never  get  over  my  foolish 
weakness  of  falling  in  love  with  little  girls.  Bine 
eyes,  chestnut  curls,  rosy  cheeks,  neat  dress,  sweet 
smiles,  and  kind  winning  manners  in  a  little  girl 
of  ten  or  twelve  are  not  to  be  withstood.  .  .  . 
Little  girls  can  do  more  by  the  sweetness  and  in- 
nocence of  their  free  young  hearts  to  allay 
troubled  spirits  and  to  cheer  and  soothe  in  the 
hour  of  suffering  than  most  of  those  who  are  older. 
There  is  a  purity  and  a  sincerity  and  a  simplicity 
in  their  manners  and  words  that  captivates 
hearts." 

He  had  a  prophetic  insight  into  his  own  future 
when  he  said,  a  little  later : 

*^  I  have  always  felt  that  by  the  peculiar  traits 
and  talents  which  God  has  given  me  I  am  able  to 
do  more  for  the  instruction  and  culture  of  children 
than  many  men  who  have  different  capabilities. 
I  have  laboured  much  among  children,  and  I  have 
in  many  instances  been  able  to  soften  the  rudest, 
to  tame  the  wildest,  and  to  overcome  the  wilful- 
ness of  the  most  stubborn.  And  all,  too,  by  the 
sweet,  gentle,  winning  power  of  kindness. 

^ '  Last  Sabbath  I  met  for  the  first  time  a  dozen 
little  boys  and  girls  in  my  own  room,  and  organ- 
ised them  into  a  Sunday  school.  To-day  we  met 
there  again.  There  were  several  new  ones,  and 
the  interest  is  certainly  very  great.  During  the 
past  week  the  little  girls  have  been  almost  wild 


58      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

with  enthusiasm.  .  .  .  They  hang  around  me 
like  children  over  a  parent,  or  sisters  around  a 
brother. ' ' 

The  man  who  could  minister  so  tenderly  to 
children  was  capable  of  the  heartiest  sympathy 
with  the  woes  of  older  people,  as  was  evident 
from  the  very  next  record  in  the  journal : 

*  ^  Five  men  were  sentenced  to  be  shot  to-day  for 
the  crime  of  desertion.  Wednesday  afternoon, 
while  waiting  on  the  platform  for  the  train  going 
eastward,  my  attention  was  directed  to  two  ladies 
also  waiting  for  the  train.  One  of  these  was 
very  old  and  frail,  with  tottering  step,  bowed  head, 
and  time-silvered  hair.  Her  eyes  were  sore  with 
weeping,  and  a  swift  glance  told  me  that  some 
great  burden  was  resting  on  her  heart.  The  other 
was  young,  evidently  a  daughter  of  the  elder 
lady,  with  a  face  sober  and  thoughtful,  and  while 
she  stood  her  eyes  wandered  listlessly  and  absent- 
mindedly  upon  the  scenes  around.  A  common- 
place inquiry  on  the  part  of  the  younger  lady 
opened  a  conversation  between  us,  and  on  the 
way  to  Relay  House  I  had  frequent  conversation 
with  her.  She  told  me  of  her  mission  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  Her  brother  was  one  of  the  number  to  be 
shot  that  day.  The  old  lady  was  his  mother.  His 
father  was  an  old  man  of  nearly  eighty,  too  frail 
to  leave  his  room,  and  both  parents  were  evidently 
near  death.  Eleven  weeks  ago  her  brother  left 
home  without  telling  anyone  of  his  intentions. 
No  tidings  came  of  him  till  last  Friday  morning, 
when  the  telegraph  bore  the  sad  message :  *  Fa- 
ther, I  am  in  prison  here,  sentenced  to  be  shot  the 
17th.     Am  not  guilty  of  desertion  as  they  say. 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL  59 

Can 't  you  do  something  to  save  me  1  '  The  father 
could  not  leave  his  chamber,  but  the  heartbroken 
mother  and  sister  hurried  forward  at  once  to 
Washington,  and  by  an  interview  with  the  Presi- 
dent had  the  sentence  suspended.  Then  they  came 
to  Harper's  Ferry  to  see  the  boy.  They  saw  him 
twice,  and  then  hurried  forward  again  to  Wash- 
ington, on  which  journey  I  met  them.   .    .    . 

^'  Before  the  hour  appointed  for  execution  all 
but  two  of  the  convicted  men  had  been  respited. 
The  execution  of  the  sentence  on  the  remaining 
three  was  suspended.  The  hour  came,  however, 
and  the  two  for  whom  there  seemed  now  no  hope 
of  mercy  were  borne  off  to  the  appointed  place, 
and  all  the  solemn  preparations  were  enacted.  In 
a  few  minutes  more,  or  perhaps  only  seconds,  the 
ill-fated  men  would  have  been  launched  into 
eternity.  But  just  at  the  last  moment,  when  their 
hands  were  pinioned  and  preparations  were  mak- 
ing for  the  sentence,  an  orderly  dashed  up  on 
horseback  with  an  order  to  stop  the  execution  of 
the  sentence.  The  orderly  had  ridden  with  all 
possible  speed.  His  horse  had  fallen  in  the  road 
and  was  able  to  go  no  farther.  He  seized  another 
horse  and  dashed  on,  waving  the  paper  in  his 
hands,  that  they  might  see  him  coming,  lest  he 
should  be  too  late.  He  was  just  in  time,  and  the 
poor  men  yet  lived.'' 

Little  wonder  if  amid  such  scenes  the  young 
worker  was  sometimes  cast  down.  His  heart  was 
continually  going  out  to  the  sufferers  about  him, 
and  vitality  was  so  exhausted  that  he  could  not 
always  be  cheerful.  He  was  careful  not  to  tell 
others  of  his  depression — he  was  never  willing  to 
be  a  discourager.    The  pages  of  his  journal  only 


60      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

were  told  the  secret,  and  they  did  not  betray  him. 
On  August  8,  1864,  he  wrote : 

^^  How  these  gloomy  hours  weigh  me  down! 
I  know  it  is  wrong  to  be  gloomy.  I  have  no  right 
to  walk  under  dark  clouds  while  over  all  the  sun 
is  shining.  I  know  I  should  always  be  cheerful 
and  bright  and  happy.  God  makes  us  to  enjoy 
life,  and  he  desires  us  to  be  happy.  The  general 
tenor  of  my  life  is  even  and  bright.  Fortune 
favours.  I  have  won  for  myself  a  high  position 
among  those  who  labour  for  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  our  soldiers.  All  seems  to 
be  moving  well,  and  I  should  be  happy  at  all  times. 

^  ^  Yet  at  times,  in  spite  of  my  strongest  efforts, 
I  feel  the  shadow  of  a  cloud,  as  it  steals  over  me. 
A  sigh  or  two,  a  few  hours  of  despondency,  a 
sleepless  night,  a  useless  day,  and  then  all  is 
bright  again.  Life  is  a  strange  medley,  a  check- 
ered pathway  indeed,  streaked  with  light  and 
draped  in  gloom.  Especially  in  the  army  is  life 
liable  to  its  hours  of  darkness.  How  I  long  at 
times  for  the  quiet,  the  leisure,  the  enjoyments, 
the  privileges,  the  love  of  home !  I  was  brooding 
the  last  hour  over  the  wrecks,  the  sad  home- 
wrecks,  the  heart-wrecks,  the  wrecks  of  pleasure 
and  of  joy,  that  the  war  has  made.  I  was  think- 
ing of  the  happy  hours  of  three  and  four  years 
ago,  of  the  happy  friends  with  whom  I  mingled. 
I  was  thinking  of  my  dear  associates.  I  remember 
as  if  it  were  but  yesterday  the  walks,  the  talks, 
the  tender  words  of  love,  the  calm,  cheering  words 
of  counsel  and  encouragement.  I  had  my  dark 
hours  then,  my  hours  of  discouragement  and  some- 
times almost  despair.  I  had  my  rivals  and  my 
enemies.  ...  I  had  my  anxieties  and  cares,  for 
I  have  borne  my  share  of  responsibilities.    Per- 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL  61 

haps  few  so  young  have  had  more.  And  I  often 
felt  the  burdens  resting  upon  me,  crushing  me 
almost  to  earth.  .    .    . 

*  *  To-night  I  have  none  to  whom  to  bear  my  sor- 
rows. There  is  no  human  being  that  listens  to 
my  words  of  discouragement,  no  tongue  to  whisper 
words  of  cheer,  no  heart  to  love,  no  heart  to  re- 
ceive my  aching  head.  I  am  a  stranger  far  from 
home.  I  am  sad  to-night.  I  have  been  looking 
on  society  rent  and  torn  by  the  ravages  of  war. 
My  friends  of  boyhood,  my  associates  of  past 
years,  my  fellows  in  Latin  and  Greek,  are  nearly 
all  gone.    The  enemy's  balls  have  laid  them  low.'' 

The  entry  that  makes  this  record  worth  its  place 
in  this  biography  follows  immediately  afterwards. 
It  tells  of  the  triumph  of  the  strong  faith  of  the 
lonely  helper  of  the  soldiers  as  he  wrote  in  tri- 
umph: 

*  *  Jesus  is  my  friend,  and  why  then  languish  in 
vain  for  earthly  comforters'?  Christ  alone  is  true 
and  sure — Jesus  Christ  my  all  shall  be." 

The  reader  can  see  the  strong  man  throwing 
off  his  discouragements,  squaring  his  broad  shoul- 
ders, and  rising  with  new  courage  to  face  the  bur- 
dens of  his  life  of  ministry. 

It  was  by  daily,  hourly  communion  with  his 
Friend  that  he  gained  strength  for  his  tasks.  And 
the  knowledge  that  others  were  praying  for  him 
cheered  him. 

'^  As  I  have  knelt  late  at  night  in  my  tent,  to 
praise  God  for  his  goodness  and  invoke  still  longer 


62      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

the  sunshine  of  his  favour,  I  have  always  felt  that 
I  was  not  alone.  I  have  felt  that  far-away  loved 
ones  were — possibly  at  that  very  moment — bow- 
ing like  myself  in  prayer.  I  have  known  that  for 
me  a  voice  of  prayer  arose  to  him  who  answers. 
I  have  felt  stronger  in  heart  and  stronger  in  faith. 
I  bless  God  for  the  privilege  of  prayer,  and 
doubly,  when  it  becomes  the  electric  chain  that 
binds  heart  to  heart,  and  all  to  heaven." 

And  again  he  wrote : 

**  Gradually  the  clouds  of  war  are  lifting,  and 
rays  of  glorious  light  are  bursting  upon  us.  May 
we  not  hope  that  the  end  is  near,  and  that  when 
this  terrible  tragedy  is  over,  our  land  may  never 
again  be  called  to  witness  such  scenes  of  suffer- 
ing and  strife!  The  only  fitting  posture  for  the 
Christian  in  these  days  of  blood  and  heart-wrecks 
and  home-wrecks  is  on  his  knees.  Let  us  never 
cease  to  beseech  God  to  have  mercy  on  us,  and  to 
take  away  His  sore  judgments  from  us.  '  The 
sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit :  a  broken  and 
a  contrite  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise.'  '' 

Not  long  after  these  words  were  written  there 
came  the  event  that  tried  the  faith  of  the  strong- 
est and  drove  them  to  their  knees  in  voiceless, 
agonising  prayer.  Under  date  of  April  15,  1865, 
this  appears  in  the  journal: 

''  Every  man's  heart  is  broken  to-day.  The  sor- 
row could  not  have  been  greater  if  in  every  hab- 
itation in  the  land  a  loved  one  lay  dead.  One  sees 
no  smiling  faces  to-day,  and  hears  no  more  peals 
of  laughter  on  the  streets.    All  is  sad  and  solemn. 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL  63 

Thousands  of  flags  had  been  flung  to  the  breeze 
yesterday  in  honour  of  raising  the  national  em- 
blem over  the  ruins  of  Fort  Sumter.  Every  win- 
dow had  its  bright  colours,  and  from  every  build- 
ing the  gay  bunting  streamed.  But  this  morning, 
immediately  after  the  news  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  dead,  every  banner  was  placed  at  half-mast, 
and  draped  in  the  symbols  of  mourning,  while 
on  every  house  front  were  festoons  of  somber 
black." 

Two  weeks  after  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  there  was  a  delightful  communion 
service  at  Pleasant  Valley,  near  Harper's  Ferry, 
when  the  saddened  hearts  of  soldiers  and  dele- 
gates were  gladdened  as  they  drew  close  to  the 
Lord.  Eemount  Camp  was  to  be  broken  up  within 
a  few  days,  and  the  men  who  had  been  companions 
through  so  many  campaigns  were  to  separate,  so 
the  service  was  arranged.  Mr.  Miller  wrote  of 
this  primitive  observance: 

'  ^  The  appointments  of  the  table  were  of  a  hum- 
ble description.  The  plates  were  of  tin,  the  cups 
pewter,  the  bread  came  from  the  commissary,  the 
table  cover  was  two  religious  newspapers,  and 
over  the  bread  were  two  small  napkins,  clean  but 
not  whole.  Though  the  circumstances  were  so 
novel,  and  there  was  so  much  of  discomfort,  and 
the  appointments  of  the  table  were  so  informal, 
yet  the  service  was  both  interesting  and  profit- 
able.'' 

Professor  Stoever  of  Gettysburg  Colles^e — 
whose  house  had  been  opened  as  a  Christian  Com- 


64      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEB 

mission  hospital  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg — 
was  present,  most  unexpectedly,  at  the  communion 
in  camp.  Deeply  impressed,  he  told  of  the  day 
in  these  words : 


'*  The  services  were  held  in  one  of  the  chapels 
erected  by  the  Christian  Commission,  and  con- 
ducted by  two  delegates,  clergymen  of  evangelical 
churches.  The  scene  reminded  one  very  much  of 
primitive  apostolic  times.  Everyone  present 
seemed  pervaded  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occa- 
sion. The  chapel  was  filled  with  our  veteran  sol- 
diers. As  the  men  consecrated  the  elements  con- 
tained in  the  humble  vessels,  it  seemed  as  if  all  felt 
that  Jesus  was  present.'' 


Soon  after  this  communion  service  Mr.  Miller 
was  called  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  then 
to  Washington,  where,  to  his  own  tasks  for  the 
Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  he  added  the  direction 
of  the  Commission's  work  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  Sherman's  Army.  These  heavy 
duties  were  so  well  performed  that  in  July  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  resign  his  commission.  The 
resignation  took  effect  on  July  15. 

During  the  last  weeks  of  service  he  suffered 
from  fever,  brought  on  by  overwork.  In  July 
he  went  to  Atlantic  City  for  a  few  days  of 
rest  and  change.  The  sea  breeze  proved  to  be  the 
tonic  he  needed.  Within  a  few  days  he  once  more 
felt  strong  and  well. 

The  days  at  Atlantic  City  gave  him  leisure  to 


IN  CAMP  AND  HOSPITAL  65 

think  back  on  the  past  and  forward  to  the  futuref. 
He  spoke  of  his  experience  thus : 

**  It  has  been  a  good  service  to  me,  in  that  it 
has  fitted  me  better  for  my  life's  great  work. 
Some  young  men  enter  their  professional  life  too 
early.  Especially  do  those  who  enter  the  uni- 
versity do  so  before  they  are  fitted  for  their  work. 
...  I  came  into  the  army  just  soon  enough  to 
prevent  myself  entering  life  at  this  same  unfit  age. 
Now  I  have  seen  a  good  deal  of  life  .  .  .  and  I 
think  I  see  a  course  that  will  fit  me  for  more  and 
greater  usefulness.  I  have  had  opportunities  of 
learning  to  read  human  nature,  and  perhaps  know 
a  little  of  the  art  of  dealing  with  men.  ...  I  am 
satisfied  with  the  dispensation  that  holds  me  back 
from  early  follies.  .    .    . 

*  ^  I  can  truly  say  that  I  have  had  such  views  of 
Christ's  character,  and  have  learned  such  love  of 
Christ  himself  here,  as  I  should  not  have  gained 
for  years  anywhere  else  than  in  the  army." 

On  July  12  Mr.  Miller  left  Atlantic  City  for 
Washington.  There  he  made  out  his  final  reports. 
Then  he  left  for  his  home  in  Ohio,  where  he  ar- 
rived— after  making  a  number  of  visits  on  the  way 
— on  August  1. 

At  once  he  was  besieged  by  requests  to  do  work 
that  would  turn  him  aside  from  the  ministry  for 
an  indefinite  period.  The  American  Union  Com- 
mission, The  American  Kailway  Library  Union, 
and  the  United  Presbyterian  Freedmen's  Mission 
clamoured  for  his  services.  But  he  decided  not 
to  make  his  decision  till  he  had  taken  time  for 


66      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

study.  In  the  meantime  he  prepared  for  his  long- 
delayed  licensure.  He  did  not  like  to  think  of 
turning  aside  from  the  ministry,  yet  he  trembled 
as  he  thought  of  the  responsibility  of  standing  in 
the  pulpit : 

**  How  shall  I  dare  to  open  my  lips  or  speak 
forth  my  words?  A  mistake  here  is  a  mistake 
fatal,  eternally.  As  I  think  of  these  things  my 
poor  weak  heart  cries  out,  *  Oh,  my  God,  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things?  '  .  .  .  I  hear  a  voice 
that  answers,  '  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  and 
I  will  perfect  strength  in  weakness.' 


>> 


The  closing  weeks  of  the  summer  were  spent 
in  the  composition  of  sermons.  For  these  the 
young  student  had  received  far  better  preparation 
in  ministering  to  the  needs  of  others  than  he  could 
have  received  in  the  classroom  alone. 


THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AND  THE 

PASTORATE 


We  do  not  begin  to  understand  what  great  waste  we  are 
allowing  when  we  fail  to  put  the  true  value  on  little  oppor- 
tunities of  serving  others.  Somehow  we  get  the  feeling  that 
any  cross-bearing  worth  while  must  be  a  costly  sacrifice, 
something  that  puts  nails  through  our  hands,  something  that 
hurts  till  we  bleed.  If  we  had  an  opportunity  to  do  some- 
thing heroic  we  say  we  could  do  it.  But  when  it  is  only  a 
chance  to  be  kind  to  a  neighbour,  to  sit  up  with  him  at  night 
when  he  is  sick,  or  to  do  something  for  a  child,  we  never 
think  for  a  moment  that  such  little  things  are  the  Christ- 
like deeds  God  wants  us  to  do,  and  so  we  pass  them  by  and 
there  is  a  great  blank  in  our  lives  where  holy  service  ought 
to  be.— From  "In  That  Which  Is  Least/'  in  "The  Book  of 
Comfort.'' 

We  need  great  wisdom  for  the  ministry  of  comfort.  .  .  . 
We  need  to  be  sure  that  we  understand  God^s  way  of  giving 
comfort.  ...  A  professor  in  a  theological  seminary  said  to 
the  students :  "  Never  fail  in  any  service  to  speak  a  word  of 
comfort.  No  congregation,  however  small,  ever  assembles  but 
there  is  in  it  at  least  one  person  in  sorrow  who  will  go  away 
unhelped  if  in  Scripture  lesson,  hymn,  prayer,  or  sermon 
there  is  nothing  to  comfort  a  mourner  or  to  lift  up  a  heavy 
heart."  An  American  preacher  said,  "  I  never  look  over  a 
congregation  of  people  waiting  for  a  message  from  my  life 
without  thinking  of  what  burdens  many  of  them  are  carrying, 
through  what  struggles  they  are  passing,  what  sorrows  they 
are  enduring,  and  how  much  they  need  comfort  and  encour- 
agement that  they  may  be  able  to  go  on  in  their  pilgrimage 
journey." — From  "The  Message  of  Comfort/'  in  "A  Heart 
Garden/^ 


CHAPTEE  V 

THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AND  THE 

PASTORATE 

(1865  to  1912) 

Mr.  Miller  resumed  Ms  interrupted  studies  at 
the  Allegheny  Theological  Seminary  in  the  fall  of 
1865.  His  experiences  during  the  war  had  so 
broadened  his  mind  that  he  was  able  to  make  the 
most  of  his  opportunities  under  Dr.  John  T. 
Pressley  and  Dr.  David  R.  Kerr  and  their  asso- 
ciates. The  number  then  in  the  faculty  was  not 
nearly  so  large  as  in  this  and  similar  institutions 
to-day,  but  the  men  were  all  giants  of  intellectual 
and  spiritual  strength,  and  knew  how  to  inspire 
the  young  men  enrolled  in  their  classes. 

Fellow  students  who  had  valued  Mr.  Miller  be- 
cause of  his  unusual  attainments  marvelled  at 
the  way  in  which  his  character  had  been  enriched 
by  the  service  with  the  Christian  Commission. 
They  rejoiced  in  the  opportunity  for  daily  fellow- 
ship with  one  who  was  living  so  near  to  heaven 
that  every  word  and  act  of  his  seemed  to  lift  them 
close  to  God.  His  brotherliness  of  spirit,  his  ear- 
nestness of  purpose,  his  humility  and  gentleness, 
and  his  never-flagging  zeal  won  all  who  knew  him. 

69 


70      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

His  roommate  in  1865 — J.  G.  D.  Findlay,  later 
pastor  at  Newburgh,  New  York — said  of  him: 

*'  I  found  him  a  genial  and  heartsome  com- 
panion, and  we  passed  the  time  pleasantly  to- 
gether. He  was  studious,  fond  of  reading,  and 
much  interested  in  all  Christian  work.  My  asso- 
ciation with  him  was  especially  helpful  and  up- 
lifting." 

Lifelong  friendships  were  formed  during  these 
years.  Perhaps  the  most  intimate  was  with 
Charles  A.  Dickey,  whom  he  assisted  at  a  newly 
organised  mission  in  Allegheny  which  grew  into 
the  Fourth  United  Presbyterian  Church.  There 
— in  Sunday  school,  in  prayer  meeting,  and  the 
pulpit — he  was  a  conscientious  and  unassuming 
associate.  One  of  the  great  joys  of  later  life  in 
Philadelphia  was  friendship  and  fellowship  with 
Dr.  Dickey,  then  pastor  of  Bethany  Church. 

When  the  seminary  celebrated  its  seventy-fifth 
anniversary,  Dr.  Miller  wrote  a  hearty  letter  tell- 
ing of  his  indebtedness  to  the  institution.  In  this 
he  said: 

**  By  far  the  most  lasting  influences  of  my 
seminary  life  were  its  fellowships.  .  .  .  That 
which  has  stayed  with  me  most  persistently  dur- 
ing these  years  has  not  been  the  theology,  the 
church  history,  the  New  Testament  Greek,  or  the 
Old  Testament  Hebrew,  but  the  memory  of  cer- 
tain men  and  the  impressions  which  they  made 
upon  my  life." 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    71 

He  completed  his  course  in  tlie  spring  of  1867. 
During  the  summer  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
First  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Wil- 
mington, Pennsylvania,  the  seat  of  Westminster 
College,  from  which  he  had  graduated  five  years 
earlier.  His  ordination  and  installation  took 
place  September  11,  1867,  and  he  at  once  devoted 
himself  heartily  to  the  work  of  pulpit  and  pas- 
torate. Being  a  college  centre,  the  field  gave  in- 
spiration for  the  most  careful  sermon  prepara- 
tion, and  men  who  sat  under  his  preaching  in  their 
student  days — ministers,  doctors,  lawyers,  and 
others — tell  of  the  uplift  which  it  brought  to  them. 
A  number  of  men  testified  in  later  years  that  they 
were  led  by  his  strong  personality  and  the  spirit 
of  his  work  to  the  determination  to  devote  their 
lives  to  the  gospel  ministry. 

Nor  was  it  only  the  students  who  were  helped 
by  his  preaching  at  New  Wilmington.  From  the 
first  there  was  a  persuasiveness  in  tone  and  mes- 
sage, and  an  earnestness  in  utterance  which  made 
his  preaching — to  use  the  words  of  an  admirer — 
**  peculiarly  his  own.'*  There  was  nothing  stilted 
in  his  pulpit  work,  no  straining  after  rhetorical 
or  dramatic  effect,  but  there  was  a  simplicity,  a 
directness,  an  elegance  and  richness  in  diction  and 
illustration,  combined  with  evident  sincerity  and 
earnestness  that  carried  his  messages  directly  to 
the  heart. 

It  was  evident  to  all  who  watched  his  work  that 
he  was  winning  a  strong  hold  upon  the  hearts  of 


72      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

children,  because  they  always  had  a  warm  place 
in  his  hearths  love.  A  mot'  ;  still  living  in  New 
iWilmington  tells  of  the  interest  manifested  in  her 
only  son  by  the  young  pastor,  and  of  the  affection 
which  the  child  soon  began  to  manifest  in  return. 
One  of  the  ways  in  which  he  showed  his  interest 
in  children  and  young  people  was  in  the  encour- 
agement he  gave  them  to  cultivate  missionary  gar- 
dens, or  rows  of  corn  or  potatoes  in  their  fathers' 
fields.  Wherever  there  were  children  in  the  home 
there  was  a  well-cared- for  garden  bed,  or  rows  of 
corn  or  potatoes,  or  a  tree  in  the  orchard,  the 
products  of  which  were  to  be  given  to  God.  At 
Thanksgiving  there  would  be  a  general  ingather- 
ing of  the  fruits  of  the  consecrated  ground. 

Though  this  first  pastorate  lasted  but  two  years, 
nearly  two  hundred  names  were  added  to  the 
church  roll — eighty-five  on  confession  of  their 
faith  and  one  hundred  and  thirteen  by  letter. 
Most  men  would  have  thought  it  unreasonable  to 
expect  such  results  in  a  circumscribed  country 
field,  but  the  young  pastor  discovered  the  people 
and  went  after  them.  He  believed  in  calling  re- 
peatedly on  all  who  would  receive  him.  A  phy- 
sician, with  whom  he  was  then  specially  intimate, 
has  since  spoken  of  the  list  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred families  living  within  a  radius  of  five  miles 
from  the  village  which  his  pastor  visited  during 
those  two  years  of  service. 

He  was  not  satisfied  merely  to  receive  members 
into  the  church;  he  felt  that  his  duty  was  then 


J.  R.  MILLER  (1868) 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    73 

just  begun.  The  next  thing  was  to  train  them 
for  Christian  service.  This  he  was  able  to  do 
with  marked  success.  One  who  later  became  a 
pastor  of  some  distinction  gives  this  glimpse  of 
methods  that  succeeded  in  his  case : 

*^  I  had  been  for  several  years  a  member  of 
the  church,  but  I  had  never  the  courage  to  lead 
publicly  in  prayer.  One  Wednesday  evening 
after  prayer  meeting  he  came  to  me  personally 
and  asked  if  I  would  not  lead  in  prayer  the  next 
Wednesday  evening.  I  was  afraid,  and  would  not 
consent.  He  talked  with  me  very  kindly  and  ten- 
derly for  a  short  time  and  asked  me  to  think  it 
over  and  pray  about  it.  He  said  that  he  would 
pray  also  that  the  Lord  would  give  me  strength 
and  courage  to  do  as  he  asked.  He  said  that  I 
need  not  fear  my  being  called  on  to  pray  until  I 
could  willingly  give  my  consent.  I  was  a  green, 
backward  country  boy,  and  had  it  not  been  for  his 
kind,  sympathetic  spirit  and  strong  personal  in- 
fluence I  could  not  have  made  the  venture.  But 
I  did  as  he  asked.  The  next  steps  were  not  easy, 
but  his  sympathy  and  suggestions  helped  me  to 
continue  after  I  had  made  the  start." 

Though  his  labours  in  this  first  pastorate  were 
abundantly  fruitful,  Mr.  Miller  was  not  wholly 
satisfied  with  his  ecclesiastical  relationships.  He 
held  firmly  to  the  great  body  of  truth  professed 
by  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he 
had  been  reared,  but  he  did  not  like  the  rule  re- 
quiring the  exclusive  singing  of  the  Psalms,  and 
he  felt  that  it  was  not  honest  for  him  to  profess 


74      THE  LIFE  OF  DB.  J.  R.  MILLER 

this  as  one  of  the  articles  of  his  Christian  belief. 

He  had  no  prospect  of  a  field  of  labour  in  any- 
other  denomination,  and  his  people  were  daily 
becoming  more  devoted  to  him,  when — in  July, 
1869 — ^he  wrote  a  long,  tender  letter  to  his  father 
and  mother,  telling  them  of  his  scruples  and  of 
the  decision  he  had  formed,  after  much  prayer 
and  consideration,  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge 
and  to  seek  member sliip  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  U.  S.  A.  He  made  no  reflections  whatever 
upon  the  Church  in  which  he  had  been  trained  and 
by  which  he  had  been  ordained.  On  the  contrary, 
he  acknowledged  his  deep  indebtedness  to  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  the  godly  par- 
ents who  had  so  earnestly  and  faithfully  taught 
him  the  way  of  life,  and  who  had  followed  him 
with  their  earnest  prayers  all  his  days. 

In  August,  1869,  he  announced  to  the  congre- 
gation his  intention  to  resign  the  pastorate  charge 
and  asked  them  to  join  him  in  his  request  to 
presbytery  for  a  dissolution  of  the  relationship 
existing  between  them.  The  congregation  reluc- 
tantly acquiesced  in  his  request.  By  the  action  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Mercer  he  was  released  Au- 
gust 24. 

There  was  sorrow  among  the  ministers  and 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
There  was  a  wide  feeling  among  its  ministers  that 
the  Lord  had  a  work  for  Mr.  Miller  among  them 
which  would  have  been  abundantly  blessed.  But 
those  who  knew  the  spirit  of  his  life  recognised 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    75 

the  honesty  and  sincerity  of  heart  with  which  he 
made  the  change,  and  followed  him  with  their 
best  wishes,  their  prayers  and  their  unceasing 
interest.  They  recognised  that  the  Lord  had  led 
him  out  into  a  wider  field,  and  always  rejoiced  in 
the  fact  that  his  life  had  been  so  abundantly  used. 
While  his  relationship  to  the  Church  of  his  boy- 
hood had  ended,  his  interest  in  that  Church  was 
not  at  an  end.  Until  the  close  of  his  life  he  was 
quick  to  acknowledge  the  great  blessings  that  had 
come  to  him  through  the  Church  of  his  fathers. 
He  recognised  that  although  its  membership  and 
ministry  were  comparatively  few  in  number,  they 
were  characterised  by  an  intensity  of  life  which 
made  their  witness  and  their  service  a  blessing 
to  the  world.  He  recognised  the  strength  and 
the  sincerity  of  the  convictions  which  governed 
its  people  and  the  tenacity  with  which  these  con- 
victions were  held.  He  made  no  effort  to  lead 
others  to  follow  his  example  in  transferring  their 
membership  from  one  church  to  the  other.  His 
answer  to  any  who  sought  advice  as  to  such  a 
change  was  that  they  should  be  satisfied  as  to 
their  own  convictions  of  truth  and  duty,  and  then 
should  faithfully  follow  them.  To  one  who  con- 
sulted him  in  reference  to  this  matter,  he  said 
that  not  even  the  prospect  of  greater  usefulness 
should  lead  one  to  make  such  a  change,  for  God 
only  knows  where  our  lives  can  be  most  richly 
blessed;  our  place  is  to  surrender  our  lives  to 
God  and  seek  to  follow  only  where  He  leads. 


76       THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

After  resigning  his  church  at  New  Wihuington, 
Mr.  Miller  did  not  know  what  was  to  be  his  next 
step.  No  church  had  opened  to  him.  But  he  felt 
he  was  following  God's  leading,  so  he  was  content 
to  wait  for  further  indications  of  God's  will.  He 
went  to  Allegheny,  where  he  read  and  studied  for 
two  months. 

Then  came  an  invitation  from  the  Bethany  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Philadephia  to  undertake  the 
pastorate.  This  was  one  of  the  very  first  calls 
issued  after  the  reunion  of  the  Old  School  and 
New  School  Churches,  which  was  consummated  in 
Pittsburgh,  November  12,  1869.  The  invitation 
was  accepted,  and  the  new  pastor  began  his  new 
work  November  21,  1869.  On  December  4  he  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 

On  June  22,  1870,  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to 
Miss  Louise  E.  King  of  Argyle,  New  York,  whom 
he  had  met  in  May,  1868,  while  attending  the  meet- 
ing of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Argyle.  From  the  day  of  his 
marriage  Mrs.  Miller  was  his  inspiration  and  his 
helper  in  all  his  work.  He  was  never  weary  of 
telling  of  his  great  debt  to  her.  In  his  letters  to 
young  married  people,  he  frequently  told  of  what 
she  was  to  him,  and  said  that  he  could  wish  them 
no  greater  happiness  than  a  home  such  as  she 
was  making  for  him.  The  secret  of  Mrs.  Miller's 
helpfulness  was  not  only  her  beautiful  character, 
but  her  recognition  of  the  fact  that  her  husband 
belonged  to  those  who  listened  to  his  preaching, 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    77 

who  received  him  in  their  home,  who  read  the  pub- 
lications he  edited,  or  who  were  inspired  by  his 
books.  That  he  might  be  free  to  serve  them  she 
saw  to  it  that  he  was  relieved  of  all  home  cares 
which  she  could  take  upon  herself.  In  these  ef- 
forts she  was  most  successful. 

At  Bethany  Mr.  Miller  gathered  about  him  such 
an  earnest  and  increasing  band  of  workers  that  the 
church  speedily  outgrew  the  modest  quarters  in 
which  he  found  it,  and  a  larger  building  became 
necessary.  In  the  problem  incident  to  its  con- 
struction, as  in  the  spiritual  problems  of  the  field, 
he  leaned  heavily  on  a  devoted  session  of  which 
John  Wanamaker  was  a  member.  The  large 
Sunday  school,  of  which  Mr.  Wanamaker  was  then 
— and  is  still — superintendent,  called  for  much  of 
the  young  pastor's  time  and  thought.  His  rela- 
tions with  the  young  people  were  cordial  and 
intimate,  and  he  was  able  to  persuade  many  of 
them  to  accept  Christ. 

When  he  became  pastor  at  Bethany  the  mem- 
bership was  seventy-five.  When  he  resigned  in 
1878  this  was  the  largest  Presbyterian  church 
in  Philadelphia,  having  about  twelve  hundred 
members. 

The  regard  in  which  he  was  held  there  is  indi- 
cated by  the  fact  that  fifteen  years  after  he  re- 
signed the  pastorate  the  session  pleaded  with  him 
to  return  as  one  of  the  associate  pastors  of  the 
church. 

Nine  years  at  Bethany  so  exhausted  him  that 


78      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

he  thought  it  wise  to  accept  the  call  that  came 
to  him  from  the  new  Broadway  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  He  wished 
greater  opportunity  for  study  than  he  could  have 
in  the  city  parish.  For  nearly  two  years  he  re- 
mained in  his  new  field,  devoting  himself  without 
reserve  to  the  one  hundred  members  who  were 
there  to  welcome  him  and  the  many  who  were  re- 
ceived during  his  pastorate. 

With  great  skill  he  adapted  himself  and  his 
methods  to  the  peculiar  conditions  of  his  new 
field.  In  order  to  make  headway  against  dances, 
tea  parties  and  similar  gatherings,  which  inter- 
fered with  church  work,  he  organised  a  library 
club.  This  met  weekly  in  different  homes.  The 
forty  or  fifty  who  attended  the  meetings  were 
helped  and  strengthened;  many  of  them  were  led 
to  take  a  new  interest  in  the  church.  He  was  also 
a  factor  of  moment  in  the  life  of  the  public-school 
teachers,  whom  he  encouraged  in  their  work  with 
the  young  people  by  calling  on  them  and  entertain- 
ing them  in  his  home.  The  ministers  of  the  town 
— ^who  had  never  worked  together  very  well — were 
given  a  vision  of  the  possibilities  of  cooperation. 

In  1880  Westminster  College,  his  alma  mater, 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
Later  in  the  year  came  the  invitation  to  undertake 
editorial  work  for  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Pub- 
lication which  led  him  to  Philadelphia.  There 
he  became  interested  in  the  Hollond  Mission, 
a  down-town  work  with  a  discouraging  history. 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    79 

He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  little  chapel 
of  the  mission  January  2,  1881.  A  few  days  later 
he  wrote  this  message  to  the  people  whose  invita- 
tion to  lead  them  he  had  accepted : 

**  You  can  help  to  make  this  chapel  a  warm, 
loving  place,  into  which  the  weary,  the  sorrow- 
ing, the  poor,  the  friendless,  and  the  stranger 
will  love  to  come.  It  costs  but  little  to  be  kind, 
to  reach  out  a  cordial  hand,  to  speak  a  few  wel- 
coming words;  and  yet  whole  families  have  been 
won  by  just  such  simple  courtesies  in  church 
aisles.  Do  not  wait  for  introductions.  Those 
who  enter  our  church  doors  are  our  guests,  and  we 
must  make  them  feel  at  home. 

'*  I  desire  to  have  a  place  in  your  confidence, 
and  in  your  affections.  The  work  of  a  true  pastor 
is  more,  far  more,  than  the  faithful  preaching  of 
the  Word.  He  is  a  physician  of  souls,  and  his 
work  must  be  largely  personal.  I  desire,  there- 
fore, to  become  the  close,  personal  friend  of  every- 
one. I  invite  you  to  come  to  me  freely  for  counsel 
and  prayer  in  every  matter  that  may  concern  your 
spiritual  welfare.  In  sickness  I  want  you  to  send 
for  me.  If  you  are  in  trouble,  I  claim  the  privi- 
lege of  sharing  it  with  you.  I  shall  ever  have  a 
warm,  ready  sympathy,  and  a  brother's  helping 
hand  for  each  of  you  when  any  burden  presses,  or 
any  sorrow  tries  you.  And  in  turn,  I  ask  from 
you  continual  prayer,  large  patience,  the  firmest, 
truest  friendship,  a  place  in  each  home  and  heart, 
and  ready  cooperation  in  all  the  Master's  work/' 

The  mission  was  organised  as  a  church  March 
24, 1882.  Dr.  Miller  was  installed  pastor  April  23, 
1882.    At  that  time  the  church  reported  259  mem- 


80      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLER 

bers,  while  there  were  1,024  in  the  Sunday  school. 
During  the  sixteen  months  of  the  pastorate  the 
church  grew  rapidly,  both  in  numbers  and  influ- 
ence. 

On  September  3,  1883,  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  in  order  that  Dr.  Miller  might  devote 
himself  to  his  editorial  work.  A  month  later  Rev. 
William  M.  Paden  became  pastor.  Dr.  Miller  as- 
sisted him  in  every  way  in  his  power,  and  the 
church  grew  rapidly. 

In  January,  1886,  the  hunger  of  the  congrega- 
tion for  Dr.  Miller's  continued  service  led  to  the 
request  that  he  become  associated  with  Dr.  Paden, 
His  own  hunger  for  the  pastorate  and  intimate 
contact  with  the  people  led  him  to  assume  once 
more  a  burden  that  he  had  once  decided  was  too 
great  for  him.  For  more  than  eleven  years  the 
new  relation  continued.  Dr.  Paden  and  Dr.  Mil- 
ler worked  together  in  delightful  harmony.  For 
ten  years  Dr.  Paden  was  a  member  of  Dr.  Miller's 
household. 

In  October,  1897,  Dr.  Paden  accepted  a  call  to 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  and  both  pastors  resigned. 
At  this  time  the  membership  of  the  church  was 
1,164,  and  there  were  1,475  members  in  the  Sun- 
day school.  Dr.  Miller  acted  as  moderator  of 
the  session  and  supply  of  the  church  until  June, 
1898,  when  the  new  pastor  was  on  the  field.  Then 
the  church  property  was  worth  $125,000. 

Concerning  his  resignation  of  the  pastorate  Dr. 
Miller  wrote  to  a  friend : 


SEMINAEY  AND  PASTORATE    81 

**  In  one  sense  it  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  lay  this 
burden  down.  My  duty  has  seemed  very  clear  in 
the  matter.  My  editorial  and  literary  work  have 
been  growing  continually  during  recent  years,  and 
now  fill  my  hands  so  full  that  I  cannot  in  justice 
to  myself  undertake  any  extended  work  outside." 

But  the  busy  man  could  not  be  satisfied  out  of 
the  pulpit.  Every  Sunday  he  was  busy  in  some 
church,  after  a  week  whose  evenings  were  spent 
calling  on  those  who  needed  his  help.  To  a  Phila- 
delphia pastor  he  wrote  of  his  desire  to  keep  his 
Sundays  occupied : 

**  You  know  I  am  now  free  from  Sunday  work 
and  I  need  not  say  to  you  that  at  any  time  when 
I  can  relieve  you  either  for  one  service  or  for  a 
whole  Sunday  when  you  want  to  rest  a  little,  it 
will  not  only  be  a  privilege  but  a  real  pleasure 
to  me  to  do  it.  I  would  not  accept  compensation 
for  any  such  service.'' 

A  few  weeks  after  concluding  his  work  at  Hol- 
lond  Dr.  Miller  moved  with  his  family  to  Ger- 
mantown,  one  of  the  delightful  residence  sections 
of  Philadelphia.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  not 
to  accept  an  active  pastorate.  He  thought  he 
might  learn  of  some  little  church  that  needed  him 
where  he  might  preach  once  a  Sunday,  conduct 
a  Bible  class,  and  do  pastoral  work. 

The  appearance  of  the  desired  work  was  an- 
nounced in  a  letter  to  one  who  inquired  about  his 
future  movements : 


82      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

**  There  is  a  piece  of  summer  work  in  West 
Philadelphia  which  is  pressing  very  much  npon 
my  heart  at  present  and  which  I  may  decide  to 
take  up." 

In  the  summer  he  assisted  in  the  tent  where  this 
work  was  being  carried  on.  In  the  fall  a  small 
frame  chapel  was  bought.  This  was  dedicated 
October  29,  1898,  and  the  services  were  continued 
there.  On  October  29,  1899,  St.  Paul  Church  was 
organised  with  sixty-six  members.  Dr.  Miller 
who  had  given  much  help  and  encouragement  dur- 
ing the  intervening  months  was  chosen  temporary 
supply. 

The  church  prospered.  It  was  located  in  a  rap- 
idly growing  section  of  the  city,  and  it  had  a 
pastor  who  was  speedily  on  the  ground  when  a 
new  family  moved  in  whose  members  were  not 
connected  with  some  other  church.  On  May  11, 
1900,  a  lot  was  purchased,  and  in  this  a  stone 
chapel  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000. 
This  was  dedicated  March  24, 1901.  Thus — in  less 
than  three  years — a  discouraged  group  of  work- 
ers, inspired  by  Dr.  Miller,  had  become  an  active 
church,  possessed  of  a  property  worth  $35,000. 

During  these  early  years  Dr.  Miller  would  not 
accept  a  salary.  Later,  when  it  seemed  wise  to 
permit  the  church  to  provide  a  salary,  he  man- 
aged in  one  way  or  other  to  restore  every  dollar 
to  the  church.  During  the  fourteen  years  of  his 
connection  with  St.  Paul  he  did  not  profit  finan- 
cially by  his  service.    He  felt  that  he  should  live 


SEMINARY  AND  PASTORATE    83 

on  his  salary  as  editor,  and  that  the  salary  pro- 
vided by  the  church  should  always  be  used  in  the 
varied  activities  of  the  congregation. 

Additions  were  made  to  the  church  building 
until— on  October  7,  1906— the  beautiful  $150,000 
property  was  dedicated.  One  month  later  Dr. 
Miller — who  had  continued  as  stated  supply  all 
these  years — was  called  as  pastor.  The  installa- 
tion followed  on  December  12. 

The  relationship  thus  established  continued  till 
January  1,  1912,  when  Dr.  Miller  was  made  Pas- 
tor Emeritus.  Rev.  J.  Beveridge  Lee,  D.D.,  who 
had  been  associated  with  him  in  the  work  for  two 
years,  then  became  the  pastor  of  a  church  of  1,397 
members  and  a  Sunday  school  of  1,193  members. 

Thus,  during  thirty-nine  years.  Dr.  Miller 
served  three  Philadephia  churches.  He  had  taken 
charge  of  three  struggling  fields,  which  he  left 
among  the  largest  churches  in  the  city. 

The  annual  growth  of  these  churches  was  mar- 
vellous. During  the  nine  years  he  was  connected 
with  the  Bethany  Church,  1870-78,  1,620  persons 
were  received  into  the  membership  of  that  church, 
making  an  average  of  180  a  year;  during  the  six- 
teen years  of  his  association  with  the  Hollond 
Memorial  Church,  1881-1897,  1,817  persons  were 
received,  an  average  of  113  each  year;  and  dur- 
ing the  fourteen  years  of  his  connection  with 
St.  Paul  Church,  1898-1912,  1,904  persons  were 
received,  an  average  of  136  a  year.  In  the  thirty- 
nine  years  of  his  pastoral  relations  with  these 


84      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

three  churches,  5,341  persons  were  received,  mak- 
ing an  average  of  137  for  every  year.  The  largest 
number  of  accessions  was  in  Bethany,  in  1876, 
when  367  were  received  on  confession,  and  68  by 
letter,  making  a  total  of  435.  Hollond  received 
175  members  in  1894,  and  St.  Paul  251  in  1909. 


THE  PASTOE  AT  WORK 


No  name  of  Christ  means  more  to  us  in  the  interpretation 
of  His  life  and  love  than  Friend.  We  are  not  only  to  tell 
those  we  teach  of  the  beauty  of  the  friendship  of  Christ,  we 
must  interpret  that  friendship  in  ourselves.  What  Christ 
was  to  those  to  whom  He  became  a  personal  friend  we  must 
be  to  those  we  make  our  friends.  He  did  not  seem  to  do 
many  things  for  them.  He  did  not  greatly  change  their 
condition.  He  did  not  make  life  easier  for  them.  It  was  in 
a  different  way  that  His  friendship  helped  them.  He  gave 
them  sympathy.  They  knew  He  cared  for  them,  and  then 
the  hard  things  meant  less  to  them.  It  is  a  great  thing  for 
a  boy  to  know  that  a  good  man  is  his  friend,  is  interested  in 
him.  To  many  a  lad  it  is  the  beginning  of  a  new  life  for 
him.  "  If  you  will  be  my  friend  I  can  be  a  man,"  said  a 
pupil  in  a  mission  school  to  his  teacher  who  had  spoken  to 
him  the  first  really  kind  word  he  ever  had  heard.  The  great- 
est moment  in  anyone's  life  is  when  he  first  realises  that 
Christ  is  his  Friend. — From  ''  The  Master  and  the  Children" 
in  "The  Book  of  Comfort." 

Our  errand  in  this  world  is  in  a  small  way  the  same  that 
Christ's  errand  was.  He  does  not  now  ...  go  about  doing 
good — ^we  are  to  go  for  Him.  The  only  hands  Christ  has  for 
doing  kindness  are  our  hands.  The  only  feet  He  has  to  run 
the  errands  of  love  are  our  feet.  The  only  voice  He  has  to 
speak  cheer  ...  is  our  voice. — From  "  The  Lesson  of  Love." 


CHAPTEE  VI 

THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK 

In  1910  a  younger  minister  in  the  West  wrote  to 
Dr.  Miller  asking  him  to  tell  him  how  to  make 
his  ministry  a  success.  The  letter  sent  in  reply 
concluded  with  these  paragraphs; 

**  Cultivate  love  for  Christ  and  then  live  for 
your  work.  It  goes  without  ^saying  that  the  su- 
preme motive  in  every  minister's  life  should  be 
the  love  of  Christ.  *  The  love  of  Christ  strength- 
eneth  me/  was  the  keynote  of  St.  Paul's  mar- 
vellous ministry.  But  this  is  not  all.  If  a  man 
is  swayed  by  the  love  of  Christ  he  must  also  have 
in  his  heart  love  for  his  fellow  men.  If  I  were 
to  give  you  what  I  believe  is  one  of  the  secrets  of 
my  own  life,  it  is,  that  I  have  always  loved  people. 
I  have  had  an  intense  desire  all  of  my  life  to  help 
people  in  every  way ;  not  merely  to  help  them  into 
the  church,  but  to  help  them  in  their  personal  ex- 
periences, in  their  struggles  and  temptations,  their 
quest  for  the  best  things  in  character.  I  have 
loved  other  people  with  an  absorbing  devotion. 
I  have  always  felt  that  I  should  go  anywhere,  do 
any  personal  service,  and  help  any  individual, 
even  the  lowliest  and  the  highest.  The  Master 
taught  me  this  in  the  washing  of  His  disciples' 
feet,  which  showed  His  heart  in  being  willing  to 
do  anything  to  serve  His  friends.    If  you  want 

87 


88      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

to  have  success  as  a  winner  of  men,  as  a  helper 
of  people,  as  a  pastor  of  little  children,  as  the 
friend  of  the  tempted  and  imperilled,  you  must 
love  them  and  have  a  sincere  desire  to  do  them 
good. 

**  Eight  here  is  where  professionalism  works 
so  much  of  its  mischief.  I  have  heard  men  say 
that  they  would  not  see  people,  say,  at  certain 
hours  of  the  day,  because  these  were  hours  they 
had  set  apart  for  something  else  in  a  professional 
way.  I  have  heard  of  ministers  refusing  to  go 
out  on  stormy  nights  because  they  thought  they 
had  done  their  work  for  that  day.  This  kind  of 
spirit  will  never  succeed  in  the  highest  way.  It 
may  bring  a  man  up  to  a  noted  professional  stand- 
ing but  it  will  never  make  him  a  real  helper  of 
his  fellow  men.  The  man  that  wants  you  is  the 
man  that  you  want  to  see.  When  you  love  men 
you  must  love  every  man  and  any  man.  I  mean 
whoever  needs  you  you  must  seek  to  help,  what- 
ever the  cost  may  be,  in  whatever  little  way  you 
may  be  able  to  serve  him. 

*'  It  seems  that  your  secret  of  success  just  now 
will  be,  not  in  developing  the  professional  ideals, 
not  in  following  any  rules  which  you  have  learned 
in  the  seminary,  but  in  caring  for  people  with 
such  intensity  that  you  will/be  ready  to  make  any 

,  self-sacrifice  to  do  them  good. 

f-'  <<  If  you  would  win  men  for  Christ  you  must 
win  them  first  to  yourself.  That  is,  you  must 
make  them  believe  in  you,  love  you.  Mary  and 
her  lamb  have  a  lesson  for  us.  '  ''  What  makes 
the  lamb  love  Mary  so?  "  the  eager  children  cry. 
**  Oh,  Mary  loves  the  lamb,  you  know,"  the  teacher 
did  reply.'  If  you  love  people  they  will  love  you 
and  you  can  lead  them  anywhere  and  make  any- 
J;hing  of  them  it  is  possible  to  make/' 


7 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  89 

This  letter  was  valuable  because  its  writer  bad 
lived  out  every  statement  in  it.  He  loved  bis 
people.  He  forgot  bimself .  He  delighted  to  quote 
the  words  of  Alexander  Maclaren,  ^  ^  To  efface  self 
is  one  of  a  preacher's  first  duties."  His  people 
loved  him  because  he  thought  nothing  of  himself 
and  everything  of  them. 

His  self-effacement  was  never  more  apparent 
than  when  he  was  in  the  pulpit.  He  seemed  to  be 
unconscious  of  the  existence  of  J.  R.  Miller.  He 
seemed  to  think  only  of  God,  and  the  people;  of 
his  Friend  and  those  whom  he  longed  to  intro- 
duce to  his  Friend.  And  he  had  his  reward. 
Thousands  learned  from  his  life  the  way  to  God. 

A  correspondent  of  The  British  Monthly  once 
wrote  of  his  sermons : 

**  Though  void  of  the  sensational,  they  are 
never  commonplace.  He  never  loses  sight  of  the 
fact  that  they  are  to  supply  spiritual  food  and 
instruction  to  immortal  souls,  and  right  royally 
do  they  perform  their  mission.  All  are  marked 
by  simplicity  of  speech,  lofty  ideals,  tender  ap- 
peals, the  statement  of  the  heart's  great  need, 
and  the  magnifying  of  the  all-powerful  Helper. 
In  them  there  is  neither  theorising  nor  temporis- 
ing; no  man  can  mistake  their  meaning — all  is 
plain,  direct,  earnest,  forceful.  Men  listen  atten- 
tively, reverently,  prayerfully;  they  instinctively 
feel  that  the  preacher  is  expressing  great  truths, 
that  he  is  setting  forth  their  spiritual  needs, 
that  he  is  translating  into  words  the  nobler  long- 
ings of  their  lives.  *  Thou  art  the  man  '  is  what 
every  thoughtful  person  thinks  of  himself  when 


90      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

listening  to  Dr.  Miller's  earnest  condemnation  of 
sin  and  to  his  pleadings  for  more  of  purity,  use- 
fulness and  holiness.  It  is  little  wonder  then  that 
people  who  sit  under  his  preaching  strive  to  lead 
clean,  helpful  lives,  and  to  do  the  will  of  the 
Master." 

He  never  forgot  the  universal  need  of  comfort. 
**  We  forget  how  much  sorrow  there  is  in  the 
world,''  he  one  day  remarked.  ^'  Why,  there  are 
hearts  breaking  all  about  us.  I  have  made  it  a 
rule  of  my  ministry  never  to  preach  a  sermon 
without  giving  some  word  of  comfort  to  the  sor- 
rowing. In  every  congregation  there  is  sure  to 
be  some  soul  hungering  for  consolation. ' ' 

The  mails  brought  him  many  such  letters  as 
this: 

*  *  Will  you  let  me  write  you  a  word  of  gratitude 
and  appreciation?  I  wish  that  I  might  tell  you 
how  much  you  are  to  others,  but  the  lines  you 
quoted  in  your  sermon  of  November  27  best  ex- 
press my  thought. 

*'  Through  the  reading  of  Darwin's  writings, 
and  other  things  in  my  life,  I  was  left  with  faith 
in  nothing  except  a  vague,  uncertain  belief  in  God 
and  immortality  which  was  half  obscured  by 
doubt.  But  through  the  force  and  beauty  of  your 
life  and  words  my  thoughts  have  broadened  and 
faith  in  God  and  the  Christ  Child,  and  the  possi- 
bility of  true  and  beautiful  lives  have  come  back 
to  me.  Though  the  questionings  remain  unan- 
swered I  am  content  to  forget  them  in  the  desire 
for  an  unselfish  and  sincere  life." 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  91 

Another  listener  who  was  helped  wrote: 

**  Where  do  you  get  all  your  good  sermons? 
Straight  from  God !  You  make  them  such  a  part 
of  one's  life  I  know  it  must  be  possible  to  live 
them  even  if  I  do  fail.  Even  trying  makes  one 
better  and  happier. 

''  This  little  note  only  wants  to  thank  you  for 
your  preaching  and  for  your  influence  which  has 
done  and  is  doing  a  good  work  in  me." 

All  parts  of  a  service  conducted  by  Dr.  Miller 
were  made  helpful  and  inspiring.  His  prayers 
especially  were  strengthening  and  uplifting. 
They  took  one  into  the  presence  of  God,  whom  he 
seemed  to  see  as  he  was  speaking.  In  1904  a 
famous  minister  who  preached  for  him  wrote, 
after  returning  home: 

'*  In  the  morning  I  found  it  very  hard  work 
to  ask  God's  blessing  on  such  a  sermon  as  seemed 
to  be  inevitable.  I  would  gladly  have  remained 
at  home,  but  this  was  childish.  Your  prayer  broke 
my  heart,  and  I  had  a  few  minutes  of  humble  con- 
fession and  supplication  as  they  were  singing, 
which  were  refreshing  to  my  soul.  I  would  travel 
the  distance  between  my  home  and  your  church 
to  hear  you  pray." 

It  was  a  delight  to  Dr.  Miller's  people  to  know 
that  this  prince  in  prayer  was  interceding  for 
them.  They  understood  that  he  had  his  special 
prayer  list,  on  which  were  the  names  of  all  who 
sought  prayers  for  any  reason,  as  well  as  those 
who,  Dr.  Miller  felt,  should  be  remembered.    In 


92       THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

addition  to  tliis,  he  had  his  regular  list,  on  which 
the  names  of  every  member  of  the  church  and 
congregation  appeared.  The  year  was  begun  with 
a  month  of  prayer  for  these.  The  fact  was  an- 
nounced by  a  note  like  this,  put  in  the  hands  of 
all  members  in  December : 

*  *  January  is  to  be  our  month  of  prayer.  Every 
member  of  the  church  and  all  others  who  desire 
to  be  included  will  be  remembered  personally,  by 
name,  on  a  particular  day.  All  whose  names  be- 
gin with  A  will  be  remembered  January  1,  all 
beginning  with  B  will  be  remembered  January  2, 
all  beginning  with  C  January  3,  and  so  on. 

*  *  As  your  name  begins  with  A,  you  will  be 
remembered  next  Monday.  This  notice  is  sent 
to  you  that  you  may  write  to  Dr.  Miller  before 
your  day,  mentioning  any  special  requests  for 
prayer  you  may  have,  either  for  yourself  or  for 
any  of  your  friends.  These  letters  will  all  be  con- 
fidential. ' ' 

Another  letter  mailed  to  the  people  was  the  an- 
nual pastoral  greeting  sent  in  September,  after  the 
summer  vacation  was  over  and  workers  were  re- 
turning to  their  places.  These  letters  never  were 
perfunctory — they  seemed  a  part  of  Dr.  Miller's 
self.    Here  are  paragraphs  from  one : 

*^  Our  past  is  full  of  splendid  inspiration.  The 
way  God  has  helped  us  has  been  marvellous.  We 
have  increased  greatly  in  numbers.  Bu<t  better 
far  than  that,  blessing  has  gone  out  from  this 
church  and  has  helped  many  lives. 

^'  More  than  ever  befoi^,  our  church  must  be 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WOEK  93 

this  year  a  cliiircli  of  Christ.  It  must  be  a  house 
of  bread.  "When  the  hungry  come  here,  they  must 
be  fed.  When  the  sorrowing  come,  they  must  be 
comforted.  When  the  lonely  come,  they  must  find 
love  and  companionship. 

^*  Everyone  has  a  share  all  his  own,  in  the  re- 
sponsibility, something  to  do  which  no  other  one 
can  do  to  make  the  church  what  it  ought  to  be  this 
year.  Every  boy  and  every  girl  has  a  bit  of  work 
to  do.  W^hat  can  we  dol  We  may  invite  people 
to  come  with  us.  We  may  welcome  those  who 
come,  and  make  them  feel  at  home.  We  may  be 
always  here  ourselves.  Our  place  is  here.  Let 
us  not  scatter  our  wofk,  but  put  all  our  strength 
and  influence  in  right  here.  This  is  the  best  way 
we  can  help  our  Master.  We  may  make  every 
service  here  a  little  better  by  always  being  present. 
^ii  There  is  something  else:  We  may  love  one 
another.  That  is  our  church  creed.  There  is  no 
place  in  the  religion  of  our  Master  for  selfishness, 
grumpiness,  touchines?,  bad  temper,  bitter  feel- 
ing, disobligingness,  *  Little  children,  love  one  an- 
other. ' 

**  We  want  to  make  the  church  this  year  the 
homiest  church  in  our  city.  This  is  our  church 
home.  Let  us  always  meet  as  members  of  the 
same  family — cordially,  cheerfully,  affectionately. 
In  our  own  homes  we  are  hospitable  to  everyone 
who  comes  to  our  doors.  Let  us  show  hospitality 
also  to  all  strangers  who  come  to  our  church.  The 
Bible  says,  *  Forget  not  to  show  love  unto 
strangers :  for  thereby  some  have  entertained  an- 
gels unawares.'    Let  us  watch  for  angels. 

*'  I  am  deeply  conscious  of  the  need  of  divine 
help  as  we  pledge  ourselves  to  each  other  and  to 
our  Master  for  another  year.  We  can  do  nothing 
ourselves  alone.    But  the  divine  help  is  ready  if 


94      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

we  will  do  our  part.  When  Christ  sent  ont  his 
disciples,  saying,  *  As  the  Father  hath  sent  me, 
even  so  send  I  yon, '  he  also  breathed  on  them,  and 
said,  *  Eeceive  ye  the  Holy  Spirit.'  The  Master 
is  ready  to  send  us  out,  and  also  to  breathe  his 
Spirit  into  our  hearts  to  prepare  us  for  holy  life 
and  blessed  service.   Shall  we  receive  the  Spirit  ?  ' ' 

The  mails  always  played  an  important  part  in 
Dr.  Miller's  pastoral  work.  The  printed  letters 
were  merely  an  incident;  his  daily  habit  was  the 
writing  of  a  number — sometimes  scores — of  letters 
to  members  who  needed  tham.  To  discouraged 
workers  the  postman  would  deliver  a  letter  of 
cheer.  Young  Christians  would  be  given  an  op- 
portunity to  read  a  message  of  counsel  or  sug- 
gestion. Those  struggling  with  temptation  would 
be  apt  to  find  that  the  pastor  had  in  some  mys- 
terious way  become  possessed  of  their  secret  and 
had  written  to  them  in  their  need.  All  sick  mem- 
bers of  the  church  would  receive  a  letter  on  the 
afternoon  of  Saturday  before  communion.  Those 
about  to  unite  with  the  church  were  sure  of  a 
letter.  No  exception  was  made  to  this  rule  even 
when  he  was  on  his  vacation  in  Europe.  Learn- 
ing through  an  officer  of  the  church  the  names  of 
those  who  were  to  confess  Christ  at  the  com- 
munion during  his  absence,  he  wrote  an  encourag- 
ing letter  to  each  one,  and  gave  instructions  that 
a  helpful  booklet  should  be  sent  to  each  as  a  me- 
morial of  the  service.  After  the  communion  an- 
other letter  was  always  mailed  to  those  whose 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  95 

names  he  had  placed  on  the  roll  of  the  church. 
Here  is  one  of  the  after-communion  letters : 

*  *  No  words  can  tell  my  pleasure  at  the  privilege 
which  I  have  of  receiving  you  into  the  church. 
I  know  how  earnest  and  sincere  your  life  has 
been.  It  gives  me,  therefore,  the  greatest  pleasure 
to  be  permitted  to  take  you  by  the  hand  and  wel- 
come you  into  the  communion  of  the  church  and 
the  fellowship  of  Christian  people.  I  know  well 
that  while  you  have  been  happy  in  your  religious 
experience,  you  will  find  new  blessing  and  new 
joy  in  taking  this  public  step.  It  is  always  so — 
however  earnest  one  may  have  been  as  a  Christian 
and  however  sincere,  there  is  something  in  the 
public  confession  of  Christ  which  always  brings 
a  blessing  with  it.  You  will  therefore  have  great 
joy  and  deep  peace  and  I  am  sure  your  influence 
and  usefulness  will  be  largely  extended.  May 
God  bless  you  and  your  dear  wife  and  your  chil- 
dren all.'' 

To  another  young  Christian  he  said : 

*  ^  One  of  the  mottoes  which  I  give  my  young  peo- 
ple continually  is,  ^  Always  keep  sweet  whatever 
the  experiences  may  be. '  Let  me  give  this  to  you 
as  the  aim  of  your  life.  Always  keep  sweet.  You 
have  fallen  into  the  habit  of  being  blue  sometimes. 
This  is  not  a  beautiful  thing  in  life,  and  I  am  sure 
it  only  makes  you  unhappy  and  makes  others  un- 
happy. A  little  word  of  our  Saviour's  says,  *  In 
the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulations,'  but  he  adds, 
*  In  me  ye  shall  have  peace ;  therefore  be  of  good 
cheer.'  You  want  to  learn  to  trust  Christ  with 
all  the  affairs  of  your  life,  to  let  him  keep  you 
and  care  for  you  and  provide  for  you,  and  shape 


96      THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

your  circumstances.  If  you  do  this,  every  day 
committing  your  life  to  God,  trusting  him,  and 
then  going  forward  in  sweet  confidence  and  joy, 
you  may  be  sure  of  peace  all  the  while. 

^'  I  think  I  have  given  you  enough  for  one  les- 
son. Please  write  me  soon  and  tell  me  how  you 
get  on.  I  want  to  hear  from  you  often,  especially 
until  you  get  well  started  in  this  new  life.  You 
have  turned  to  me  as  your  friend  and  I  want  to 
help  you.'^ 

Many  of  the  young  converts  were  encouraged 
to  be  present  at  the  prayer  meeting,  and  to  take 
part,  and  so  many  responded  that  the  weekly 
meetings  were  always  a  joy  and  inspiration. 
Dr.  Miller  would  speak  only  about  ten  minutes; 
the  remainder  of  the  hour  was  filled  by  many 
eager  participants.  No  wonder  the  meeting  be- 
came famous  throughout  the  city,  and  beyond. 
Once  members  of  the  senior  class  in  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  visited  many  prayer  meet- 
ings in  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  then  de- 
cided which  was  the  most  helpful.  In  the  ballot 
Dr.  Miller's  prayer  meeting  led  all  the  rest. 

Dr.  Miller  was  as  faithful  on  Sunday  as  on 
week  nights.  He  was  not  content  to  attend 
preaching  service  only;  he  was  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  the  Sunday  school,  where  he  taught  a  large 
and  enthusiastic  class  of  women.  At  Hollond  the 
membership  of  his  class  was  about  four  hundred ; 
his  class  at  St.  Paul  was  half  as  large.  His 
loyalty  to  the  Sunday  school  was  delightfully  in- 
dicated by  a  little  girl  whose  parents  asked  her  if 


J.  R.  MILLER  (I875j 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  97 

she  knew  Dr.  Miller.    ^^  Oh,  yes!  '^  w^s  the  reply, 
* '  he  goes  to  our  Sunday  school !  ' ' 

In  the  Christian  Endeavour  Society,  too,  this 
young  people's  pastor  who  never  grew  old  was 
a  constant  encourager  and  helper.  He  never  for- 
got a  meeting.  When  in  Europe  in  1896  he  sent 
this  message  for  the  monthly  consecration  meet- 
ing of  his  society: 

**  No  matter  where  we  go — away  from  home, 
away  from  work — we  can  never  get  away  from 
God.  We  must  be  careful  to  live  so  that  we  shall 
never  want  to  get  away  from  ourself ;  and  we  must 
also  live  so  that  we  shall  never  desire  to  get  away 
from  God. ' ' 

He  was  just  as  acceptable  and  effective  in  his 
work  with  the  older  members.  He  knew  how  to 
take  them,  and  he  could  get  along  with  them  when 
no  one  else  could.    One  of  his  elders  once  said : 

**  I  do  not  recall  ever  having  seen  any  indication 
of  a  factional  difference  or  lack  of  harmony  in 
the  church  during  Dr.  Miller's  pastorate.  He  had 
a  way  of  anticipating  trouble.  If  he  saw  any  per- 
son or  any  organisation  which  showed  indications 
of  getting  out  of  touch  with  the  work,  it  was  his 
custom  to  go  to  the  one  or  the  group,  as  the  case 
might  be,  give  them  a  few  encouraging  words,  tell 
them  how  much  he  depended  upon  them,  and  tell 
them  how  much  they  had  helped  him  in  his  work, 
and  show  them  ways  of  further  assistance  and 
service.  His  matchless  tact,  as  well  as  his  exam- 
ple, kept  everyone  in  harmony. ' ' 


98      THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

In  every  church  to  which  he  ministered  he  in- 
spired young  men  to  give  themselves  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  Two  of  the  members  of  one  of 
his  Christian  Endeavour  Societies  who  took  this 
step  afterwards  wrote  to  him  telling  of  his  part  in 
their  lives.    One  said: 

*^  I  have  never  forgotten  the  care  you  gave  to 
me  and  the  inspiration  I  received  from  you  as 
pastor  and  friend  during  college  and  seminary 
years." 

The  other  wrote  from  the  foreign  mission  field: 

**  I  can  never,  never  repay  the  debt  I  owe  to 
you.  And  as  it  was  with  me  so  it  was  with  count- 
less others.  I  thank  God  fervently  for  what  your 
life  has  meant  to  me." 

Love  for  the  young  people  led  Dr.  Miller  to 
consent  to  direct  the  Wellesley  school  for  young 
women,  which  was  financed  by  John  Wanamaker. 
Dr.  Miller  looked  on  this  as  part  of  his  pastoral 
work.  For  several  years  he  gave  much  time  and 
thought  to  the  young  women  and  their  teachers, 
and  both  teachers  and  pupils  gratefully  acknowl- 
edged their  indebtedness  to  him.  One  of  the 
teachers  in  the  school  he  had  first  met  when  pastor 
at  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  There  he  encouraged 
her  with  the  words :  ^  *  Move  right  on,  with  a  brave, 
cheerful  heart.  The  Master  is  with  you  and  your 
work  cannot  fail. ' '  Through  him  she  was  invited 
to  Philadelphia  and  there  he  continued  to  say 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  99 

the  words  that  enabled  her  to  go  on  to  noble 
achievements. 

But  the  heart  of  Dr.  Miller's  pastoral  work 
was  not  the  school,  or  his  association  with  the 
young  people,  or  his  helpful  letters.  The  greatest 
thing  in  his  life  among  the  churches  was  his  habit 
of  calling  from  house  to  house. 

Once  a  visitor  to  St.  Paul  Church  looked  from 
the  characteristic  Sunday  evening  audience  that 
filled  the  building,  to  the  speaker  who  could  be 
heard  only  with  difficulty  in  the  back  of  the  room, 
and  said:  *^  How  does  he  do  it?  "Where  is  that 
man's  power!  "  One  standing  near  said:  ^^  Oh, 
sir!  if  you  were  in  trouble,  and  Dr.  Miller  called 
on  you  or  wrote  to  you,  you  would  never  ask  that 
question  again.  He  has  built  up*this  church  by 
his  wonderful  pastoral  work." 

His  pastoral  work  did  not  mean  simply  making 
a  specified  number  of  rounds  each  year  among 
his  members.  He  had  only  three  or  four  evenings 
a  week  for  calls — the  other  evenings  he  was  at 
the  church;  but  in  these  evening  hours  he  made 
more  calls  than  any  other  pastor  in  Philadelphia. 
He  had  a  way  of  learning  just  when  and  where  he 
was  needed. 

Wherever  he  went  he  inspired  to  earnest  living. 
Thousands  would  join  in  the  message  of  one  who 
was  privileged  to  receive  his  calls,  **  The  sweet- 
ness of  his  presence  in  our  home  was  just  like 
what  I  think  the  presence  of  Jesus  must  have 
been  in  the  home  of  Mary  and  Martha."    One  on 


100     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

whom  he  called  frequently  said  he  lived  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  simple  words  of  what  he  called 
his  creed,  *^  Jesus  and  I  are  friends. '^ 

The  way  he  was  welcomed  in  the  home  of  suf- 
fering is  well  shown  by  a  letter  from  a  physician : 

^  *  The  comfort  you  ministered  to  our  dear  Mabel 
in  her  dying  hours  has  ever  been  held  by  us  as 
too  sacred  for  discussion.  I  have  often  heard  that 
pleading  voice  as  she  anxiously  turned  her  eyes 
to  you  and  said,  *  Don't  go.  Dr.  Miller.' 


7> 


The  calls  were  made  on  rich  and  poor  alike,  but 
he  felt  that  he  was  needed  more  in  the  homes  of 
the  poor,  and  he  was  there  more  frequently. 

Another  principle  that  guided  him  as  he  made 
his  calls  he  once  stated  thus: 

**  If  there  is  a  house  which  nobody  wants  to 
visit,  or  a  person  in  that  house  whom  everyone 
avoids,  I  feel  that  I  should  be  derelict  in  my  duty 
as  a  Christian  minister,  and  recreant  to  the  Mas- 
ter, whose  I  am,  and  whom  I  serve,  if  I  did  not  go 
to  that  house  and  try  to  comfort,  help  and  save 
that  person." 

To  one  who  found  fault  with  him  because  he 
seemed  to  pay  attention  to  one  girl  in  the  congre- 
gation more  than  to  a  companion,  he  made  an 
explanation  that  was  in  perfect  accord  with  the 
declaration  just  quoted.    He  said  : 

*  ^  You  speak  of  Mary  and  Alice.  You  think  that 
I  have  been  drawn  more  to  the  former  than  to  the 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  101 

latter.  This  is  scarcely  the  case.  Mary  may  have 
appealed  to  me  more  just  because  she  needs  more 
help.  Alice  is  comfortable  and  happy,  surrounded 
by  love  and  kindness  and  does  not  need  so  much 
as  Mary  does.  Somehow  my  heart  goes  out  first 
of  all,  and  most  deeply,  toward  those  who  need 
most.  For  many  years  I  have  sought  to  be  help- 
ful to  those  whom  other  persons  are  not  likely 
to  help.  People  who  are  happy  and  comfortable, 
with  many  friends  about  them,  do  not  therefore 
appeal  to  me  in  the  same  way  as  those  who  lack 
these  earthly  blessings.  I  think  Alice  has  a  beau- 
tiful character.  I  want  to  know  her  better.  I 
want  to  be  her  close,  personal  friend.  I  am  sure 
I  shall  get  to  love  her  very  deeply  and  truly. 
But  I  have  not  felt  that  God  has  called  me  to 
help  her  in  any  special  way.  Perhaps  she  may 
need  me  more  than  I  imagine.  I  should  love  to  be 
helpful  to  her  in  any  way  I  can  be. 

''  I  think  this  statement  will  show  you  just 
how  the  matter  rests  in  my  mind.  It  is  not  so 
much  a  comparison  of  the  two  girls  as  to  their 
worth,  their  beauty  of  character,  their  nobleness 
of  womanhood,  but  rather  a  comparison  of  the  ap- 
peals they  make  respectively  to  me.  Do  I  make 
my  meaning  clear  ?  ' ' 

All  who  knew  him  marvelled  as  they  saw  how 
full  his  days  were  of  varied  service.  Frequently 
some  one  would  tell  him  he  was  doing  the  work 
of  three  men.  He  would  insist  that  this  was  not 
true.    Once  he  said: 

**  It  is  only  one  man's  work.  Most  ministers 
have  their  ^  free  Mondays  '  and  their  evenings 
for  symphony  concerts,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing, 


102     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

or  sitting  down  at  home.  I  give  up  every  hour 
to  activity  of  some  sort.  I  am  very  busy  at  the 
office  all  day;  my  people  are  there  with  their 
troubles  all  the  time.  In  the  evening  I  go  out 
visiting  sick  people  and  others.  At  about  9:30 
I  return  and  have  an  hour  with  my  family  before 
they  scatter  off.  And  I  think  my  evenings  save  me 
from  growing  old.    I  feel  younger  every  year. ' ' 

But  at  last  the  burden  proved  too  heavy,  and 
the  pastor  resigned  his  last  charge.  In  telling 
the  church  session  of  his  purpose,  he  said : 

^  ^  It  has  been  a  dream  of  mine  that  I  might  con- 
tinue in  the  work,  in  the  co-pastorate  which  has 
brought  to  me  such  joy  and  such  delightful  fellow- 
ship, ending  my  days  at  St.  Paul's.  None  but  my- 
self can  ever  know  how  dear  the  people  are  to 
me.  They  have  been  gathered  one  by  one  with 
thought  and  love.  In  many  homes  I  have  been  in 
times  of  suffering  or  sorrow  and  with  hundreds 
I  have  walked  in  experiences  of  joy  or  of  pain 
which  have  bound  them  to  me  in  very  sacred  ties. 
The  church  has  come  to  be  to  me,  in  a  very  real 
sense,  like  my  own  family,  and  I  have  thought 
that  it  would  be  a  joy  to  spend  my  last  days  among 
the  people  and  be  buried  among  them. 

**  But  the  condition  of  my  health  in  recent 
months  is  such  that  I  cannot  hope  to  carry  any 
important  part  of  the  work  hereafter.  It  seems 
wise,  therefore,  that  I  should  resign  my  position 
at  an  early  day.*' 

When  the  congregation  met  to  act  on  his  resig- 
nation a  letter  was  read,  in  which  he  said : 


THE  PASTOR  AT  WORK  103 

''  We  have  liad  a  good  time  together  as  pastor 
and  people  these  dozen  years.  Last  Sunday  as  I 
looked  into  the  faces  of  the  great  congregation 
sitting  at  the  Lord's  table,  I  conld  not  help  recall- 
ing the  first  communion  in  the  wooden  chapel, 
twelve  years  ago.  The  little  handful  has  become 
a  great  throng,  and  instead  of  the  rude  little 
building  where  we  broke  bread  that  morning  we 
sat  last  Sunday  in  our  beautiful  church  edifice. 
A  wonderful  story  lies  between  these  two  com- 
munions— a  story  of  love,  of  Christian  fellowship, 
of  self-denial  and  service,  of  earnest  Christian 
work,  of  prayer,  of  sacrificial  life,  of  joy  and  sor- 
row, of  great  spiritual  blessing. 

"  I  want  to  say  to  you,  friends,  that  St.  Paul's 
is  the  crowning  joy  of  my  life.  It  has  been  a  most 
sacred  privilege  to  live  with  you,  to  grow  up 
with  you  in  this  church,  to  be  your  friend,  to  share 
your  burdens,  to  help  you  through  hard  places. 
While  I  may  no  longer  be  your  pastor,  no  disso- 
lution of  an  ecclesiastical  relation  will  break  the 
personal  bond  that  binds  you  to  me  in  love.  I  hope 
to  live  among  you  as  one  of  you  while  God  lets 
me  stay  in  this  world.  When  I  can  be  of  any  com- 
fort or  help  to  any  of  you,  it  will  be  a  joy  to  me." 

His  last  official  message  was  sent  to  the  elders 
of  the  church  at  Christmas,  1911.  He  closed  with 
these  words : 

'*  May  the  Christmas  Day  mean  more  to  you 
than  any  Christmas  before  has  meant.  May  it 
be  the  real  coming  anew  of  Christ  into  your  heart, 
not  as  a  mere  sentiment,  but  as  a  living  power, 
transforming  you  more  and  more  into  the  divine 
beauty,   and  imparting  to  you  divine  strength, 


104    THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

which  shall  make  your  life  henceforth  a  richer 
influence,  a  greater  power  than  ever  it  has  been 
before.  You  have  a  large  responsibility  in  your 
position ;  you  will  meet  it  with  faith  and  courage. ' ' 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR 


Loyalty  to  Christ  is  shown  in  using  our  life  in  whatever 
way  we  may  be  able  and  may  have  opportunity  to  use  it. 
You  cannot  be  loyal  to  Christ  and  not  be  good.  You  can- 
not be  loyal  to  Christ  and  not  be  always  abounding  in  His 
work. — From  ^^ Loyalty  to  Christ,"  in  "  The  Wider  Life" 

If  we  fail  to  make  little  garden  spots  round  about  us  where 
we  live  and  where  we  work,  we  are  not  fulfilling  our  mission, 
nor  obeying  the  teaching  that  we  should  be  in  the  world  what 
He  was  in  the  world,  repeating  His  life  of  love  among  men. — 
From  "  Upper  Currents." 

Whatever  else  we  may  do  or  may  not  do,  we  should  cer- 
tainly train  ourselves  to  be  kind.  It  may  not  be  an  easy 
lesson  to  learn,  for  its  secret  is  forgetting  ourselves  and  think- 
ing of  others — and  this  is  always  hard.  But  it  can  be  learned. 
To  begin  with,  there  must  be  a  gentle  heart  to  inspire  the 
gentle  life.  We  must  love  people — if  we  do  not,  no  training, 
no  following  of  rules,  will  ever  make  us  kind.  But  if  the 
heart  be  full  of  the  love  of  Christ,  the  disposition  will  be 
loving,  and  it  will  need  no  rules  to  teach  the  lips  ever  gracious 
words  and  the  hands  to  do  always  the  things  of  kindness,  and 
to  do  them  always  at  the  right  time.  Too  many  wait  till  it 
is  too  late  to  be  kind. — From  ^' The  Ministry  of  Kindness" 
in  ^'  Upper  Currents" 


CHAPTER  VII 

THIETY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR 

DuKiNG  the  closing  months  of  his  service  with  the 
Christian  Commission  Dr.  Miller  thought  seri- 
ously of  turning  aside  from  the  ordained  min- 
istry that  he  might  devote  himself  to  a  wider 
ministry  by  the  pen.  Already  he  felt  the  longing 
to  give  to  the  world  burning  messages  that  would 
reach  hundreds  of  thousands  instead  of  the  few 
hundreds  who  might  be  attracted  by  his  preach- 
ing. To  some  of  his  intimate  friends  he  outlined  a 
plan  of  preparation  for  newspaper  work  to  which 
he  had  all  but  committed  himself.  He  thought 
of  taking  a  year  for  study  in  Edinburgh,  to  be 
followed  by  a  year  in  Germany.  As  he  travelled 
he  proposed  to  live  in  the  homes  of  the  people 
that  he  might  learn  of  their  life  and  their  prob- 
lems, and  so  be  able  to  carry  back  to  America  an 
enlarged  knowledge  of  the  human  heart  and  its 
needs.  This  he  felt  would  be  necessary  if  he  was 
to  be  successful  in  the  best  sense  in  the  work  of 
which  he  dreamed.  Letters  were  written  to  the 
editors  of  several  metropolitan  newspapers  telling 
of  his  plans,  and  asking  for  an  engagement  to 
write  articles  about  his  experiences;  in  this  way 

107 


108     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

lie  would  be  able  to  pay  a  portion  of  the  expense 
of  the  projected  two  years  abroad. 

Yet  he  could  not  give  up  the  ministry  for  which 
he  had  been  preparing  when  the  war  interrupted 
his  course.  Thoughts  of  foreign  travel  and  of 
later  editorial  work  were  put  aside,  while  he 
returned  to  the  seminary  and  entered  the  pas- 
torate. 

But  God  was  planning  for  him  the  joy  of  com- 
bining the  pastorate  and  editorial  work.  During 
the  remainder  of  his  seminary  days  and  while  he 
was  at  New  Wilmington,  Bethany  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, and  Eock  Island,  articles  from  his  pen 
were  welcomed  by  the  religious  papers.  When 
>-in  1875— Henry  C.  McCook,  D.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, discontinued  his  weekly  articles  on  the 
International  Sunday  School  Lessons  for  The 
Presbyterian,  published  in  Philadelphia,  he  recom- 
mended Dr.  Miller  as  his  successor.  The  lessons 
of  the  new  writer  were  prepared  in  such  a  helpful 
manner  that  when  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Pub- 
lication began  to  look  for  an  assistant  to  work 
with  John  W.  Dulles,  D.D.,  the  Editorial  Secre- 
tary, Dr.  McCook  suggested  the  young  pastor 
at  Eock  Island.  Dr.  McCook  had  planned  the 
early  periodical  publications  of  the  Board,  had 
suggested  their  name — ^^  The  Westminster  Lesson 
Helps  '^ — and  had  been  for  a  time  their  editor. 
So  the  recommendation  was  favourably  consid- 
ered, and  on  March  15,  1880,  Dr.  Dulles  wrote  to 
Dr.  Miller  asking  him  if  he  would  consider  becom- 


THIETY-TWO  YEAES  AN  EDITOE    109 

ing  assistant  to  the  Editorial  Secretary.  He  said 
frankly  that  the  position  would  not  be  conspicu- 
ous, but  assured  him  that  there  would  be  oppor- 
tunity for  abundant  service. 

The  call  to  service  always  meant  more  to  Dr. 
Miller  than  conspicuous  place,  so  he  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  reply  favourably.  On  March  23  Dr.  Dulles 
wrote  a  second  letter,  defining  the  position  more 
clearly,  and  stating  his  feeling  that  while  an  old 
editor  may  be  as  hard  for  an  assistant  to  get  along 
with  as  an  old  pastor,  he  felt  there  could  be  no 
room  for  friction,  since  both  editor  and  assistant 
had  one  aim  only — not  self,  but  results  for  the 
kingdom  of  Christ. 

His  belief  in  Dr.  Miller  was  justified.  The  two 
worked  together  in  harmony  and  affection  so  long 
as  Dr.  Dulles  had  strength  for  his  duties.  The 
experiment  was  so  successful  that  Dr.  McCook 
later  wrote : 

**  I  am  sure  that  there  is  nothing  which  I  have 
done,  directly  or  indirectly,  or  nothing  which  I 
have  influenced  to  be  done,  which  I  regard  as  so 
well  done  as  the  recommendation  of  you  for  the 
position  you  now  hold.'' 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  Dr.  Miller  planned 
to  remove  to  Philadelphia,  overtures  were  made  to 
him  by  one  of  the  churches  of  the  city  which  de- 
sired him  to  become  pastor  in  connection  with  his 
new  work.  Dr.  Miller  looked  with  favour  on  the 
proposition,  but  Dr.  Dulles,  writing  in  behalf  of 


110     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLEE 

the  Board,  urged  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  do 
justice  to  the  Board  and  that  church  at  the  same 
time.  This  was  a  perfectly  natural  suggestion,  for 
Dr.  Miller's  remarkable  ability  to  do  the  work  of 
three  men  had  not  yet  been  proved.  The  history 
of  the  next  thirty  years  was  to  show  that  he  was 
not  to  be  judged  by  the  standards  set  for  the  aver- 
age man. 

When  Dr.  Miller  entered  on  his  work  the 
Board's  only  periodicals  were  The  Westminster 
Teacher,  The  Westminster  Lesson  Leaf,  the 
Senior  Quarterly,  The  Sahhath  School  Visitor,  The 
Sunbeam  and  The  Presbyterian  Monthly  Record, 
While  he  had  something  to  do  with  all  of  these 
it  was  The  Westminster  Teacher  that  benefited 
most  by  his  painstaking,  sympathetic  writing. 
The  lesson  pages  were  enriched  by  his  extremely 
practical  and  spiritual  comments  on  the  lessons. 
His  articles  were  soon  eagerly  awaited  by  pastors, 
superintendents  and  teachers  all  over  the  coun- 
try. Soon  workers  in  Great  Britain  asked  for  the 
Teacher,  attracted  most  of  all  by  his  writing. 

In  1890,  in  writing  to  a  reader  who  thanked  him 
for  these  lesson  articles,  he  said : 

**  My  only  aim  has  been  to  make  the  Bible 
teaching  plain  and  simple  for  ordinary  Sunday- 
school  teachers,  especially  to  suggest  to  them  the 
practical  applications  which  they  may  make  in 
teaching.  I  have  always  felt  myself,  in  reading 
commentaries  and  lesson  helps,  the  lack  of  this 
practical  character.    That  is,  while  men  have  made 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR     111 

the  meaning  of  the  text  clear  enough,  they  have 
not  given  suggestions  which  will  aid  teachers  in 
applying  the  words  of  inspiration  to  the  common 
life  of  those  they  teach.  Most  Sunday-school 
teachers  lack  the  skill  themselves  to  draw  infer- 
ences and  suggest  applications,  and  therefore 
need,  I  think,  such  simple  helps  as  I  have  tried 
in  these  years  to  give  them.'' 

On  January  1,  1881,  the  magazine  was  enlarged 
that  Dr.  Miller  might  have  more  pages  for  his 
work,  and  that  provision  might  be  made  for  some 
of  the  features  for  which  his  brilliant  editorial 
mind  was  arranging.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
development  that  continued  to  the  end  of  Dr.  Mil- 
ler 's  editorial  service.  Year  after  year  the  maga- 
zine was  improved;  always  it  kept  pace  with  the 
practical  visions  of  Sunday-school  leaders,  among 
whom  Dr.  Miller  was  numbered  from  the  begin- 
ning. But  through  all  the  changes  of  more  than 
twenty-five  years  his  explanatory  notes  and  lesson 
comments  were  continued,  because  subscribers  in- 
sisted on  having  them.  In  later  years  the  attempt 
was  made  several  times  to  omit  them,  but  clamour 
was  so  great  that  they  had  to  be  restored.  This 
was  a  surprise  to  the  author;  in  his  modesty  he 
thought  that  people  would  be  growing  weary  of 
his  work,  and  would  wish  to  be  led  in  their  study 
by  some  more  up-to-date  man.  But  it  was  the 
verdict  of  all  who  knew  him — whether  personally 
or  through  his  writing — that  he  was  always  up-to- 
date;  his  daily  heart-contact  with  people  in  their 


112     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

homes  and  in  his  office  taught  him  the  secret  of 
perpetual  youth  and  almost  universal  acceptance. 

The  Westminster  Teacher  was  always  very  dear 
to  him.  Only  a  little  while  before  his  death,  when 
the  slightest  exertion  was  wearisome,  he  asked  an 
associate  to  spend  an  hour  with  him  in  his  home, 
in  order  that  he  might  talk  over  plans  for  the 
magazine  for  the  year  1913. 

Dr.  Dulles  cooperated  with  his  assistant  as  he 
outlined  the  needs  of  the  Sunday  school  for  addi- 
tional periodicals.  "When  their  plans  were  laid 
before  the  Board  of  Publication,  they  were  usually 
adopted  with  alacrity.  At  the  beginning  of  1881 
the  first  copies  of  the  Junior  Lesson  Leaf  and  the 
German  Lesson  Leaf  were  issued.  Forward  made 
its  appearance  in  1882.  The  Morning  Star  fol- 
lowed in  1883.  Two  years  later  the  Junior  Quar- 
terly was  launched. 

From  1885  to  1894  earnest  thought  and  untiring 
labour  were  devoted  to  the  development  of  the 
periodicals  already  on  the  list,  and  to  remarkably 
discriminating  book  work.  Dr.  Miller — who  be- 
came Editorial  Superintendent  in  1887 — ^was  a 
genius  in  securing  and  encouraging  authors  whom 
he  wished  to  have  in  the  catalogue  of  the  Board. 

In  1894  began  another  period  of  expansion.  In 
four  years  the  Lesson  Card,  the  Intermediate 
Quarterly,  the  Question  Leaf  and  the  Blackboard 
were  introduced  to  the  Sunday  schools.  In  1899 
the  Home  Department  Quarterly  followed.  Then 
came  the  Primary  Quarterly  in  1901,  the  Normal 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR     113 

Quarterly  and  the  Bible  Roll  in  1902,  the  Begin- 
ners Lessons — forerunner  of  the  Graded  Lessons 
— in  1903,  the  Primary  Teacher  in  1906,  the 
Graded  Lessons  for  Beginners,  Primary,  Junior, 
Intermediate  and  Senior  departments,  in  1909- 
1912,  and  The  Westminster  Adidt  Bible  Class  in 
1909.  The  Sabbath  School  Visitor — the  Board's 
oldest  periodical — ^became  The  Comrade  in  1909. 

In  the  meantime  The  Presbyterian  Monthly 
Record  became  The  Church  at  Home  and  Abroad^ 
and  was  transferred  to  other  hands  by  direction 
of  the  General  Assembly.  The  Junior  Lessons, 
the  German  Lesson  Leaf,  the  Question  Leaf  and 
the  Blackboard  were  discontinued,  as  their  place 
was  taken  by  other  publications. 

The  total  issue  of  the  periodicals  on  the  list 
was,  in  1911,  66,248,215  copies.  In  1880,  when  Dr. 
Miller  became  assistant  editor,  the  total  was 
9,256,386. 

Editors  and  publishers  of  other  Sunday-school 
periodicals  generally  agreed  that  each  new  period- 
ical of  the  Westminster  series  set  a  new  stand- 
ard, which  they  were  glad  to  keep  before  them 
as  they  made  their  plans.  Both  in  editorial  ex- 
cellence and  mechanical  appearance  the  period- 
icals and  magazines  have  always  been  models. 

The  secret  of  this  continued  success  was  that 
Dr.  Miller  was  never  satisfied.  He  was  glad  to 
hear  from  readers  who  complimented  him  on  pro- 
ducing what — as  they  enthusiastically  said — 
**  could  not  be  made  better."    But  it  was  always 


114     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

his  desire  to  make  every  publication  of  a  new 
year  superior  to  that  issued  during  the  old  year. 
^^  Now  what  can  we  do  to  make  the  publication 
better  next  year?  ''  was  a  question  that  became 
familiar  to  members  of  the  editorial  staff.  Then 
he  helped  them  plan  the  improvement — ^helped 
them  so  skillfully  that  they  thought  they  had  done 
the  planning.  He  let  them  think  so,  for  it  meant 
more  to  him  that  the  work  was  done  than  that 
the  praise  should  be  given  to  him.  He  was  al- 
ways glad  to  pass  on  the  praise  to  others. 

He  was  a  master  in  developing  and  inspiring 
assistants  who  could  help  him  with  the  varied 
work  of  the  office.  His  staff  was  so  well  organ- 
ised that  it  continued  to  do  efficient  work  if  he  was 
away  from  the  office  for  a  few  days  or  a  few 
weeks.  Yet  he  always  knew  all  about  every  peri- 
odical. All  correspondence  came  to  his  desk,  and 
was  answered  by  him;  all  arrangements  with 
writers  were  made  by  him ;  for  years  he  read  the 
manuscripts  submitted;  all  proof  came  to  him, 
and  was  carefully  scanned,  sometimes  read  word 
by  word.  In  short,  every  slightest  detail  of  office 
management  was  understood  by  him.  Even  the 
coming  of  associates  chosen  by  the  Board  for 
his  relief  was  not  the  signal  for  losing  touch  with 
any  part  of  the  work.  He  had  the  rare  ability  to 
know  all  that  was  going  on  while  giving  asso- 
ciates full  opportunity  for  development. 

To  every  one  of  the  periodicals  Dr.  Miller  gave 
his  best  thought.     Yet  there  were  three  of  the 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR    115 

publications  wliich  were  especially  dear  to  him — ■ 
The  Westminster  Teacher,  as  already  noted;  the 
Home  Department  Quarterly;  and  Forward. 

It  was  his  idea  that  the  members  of  the  Home 
Department  should  be  given  a  magazine  prepared 
for  them  especially.  He  was  not  pleased  with 
the  suggestion  made  by  some  houses  that — for  the 
sake  of  economy — this  publication  should  be  in 
large  part  a  reprint  of  the  Senior  Quarterly.  His 
knowledge  of  the  homes  of  the  people,  especially 
the  homes  of  invalids  and  busy  mothers  who  make 
up  a  large  proportion  of  Home  Department  mem- 
bership, made  him  anxious  to  give  them  an  inter- 
pretation of  the  lesson  adapted  to  their  peculiar 
needs.  It  was  his  plan  to  follow  the  verse-by- 
verse  comment  on  the  text  with  a  message  for  each 
day  on  some  truth  in  the  lesson.  This  was  done 
with  such  marvellous  skill  that  many  a  reader 
would  feel  that  the  paragraphs  were  special  in- 
dividual messages,  and  that  the  editor  somehow 
must  have  learned  of  his  circumstances  and  his 
needs.  This  impression  was  intensified  by  an  in- 
troductory letter  in  each  number  addressed  '^  To 
the  Home  Department  Students. ' '  In  one  of  these 
he  said: 

**  There  probably  are  a  great  many  shut-ins 
among  Home  Department  pupils — persons  who 
cannot  get  away  from  their  homes,  some  who 
cannot  leave  their  rooms  or  even  their  beds.  You 
must  not  feel  that  because  you  are  shut  in,  unable 
to  go  out  into  the  big  world,  therefore  you  need 


116     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

to  be  especially  lonely  or  that  you  cannot  take 
your  part  in  the  work  of  Christ.  Some  of  the 
most  active  and  efficient  Christian  workers  I  know 
are  Christians  who  cannot  go  out  at  all,  month 
after  month. ' ' 

Another  quarter  he  said: 

^*  This  Quarterly  is  used  chiefly  in  homes. 
Nothing  in  this  world  is  worthy  of  more  thought, 
prayer  and  effort  than  the  home.  Sometimes 
mothers  of  young  children  think  that  their  life 
is  one  of  privation,  because  they  are  shut  in  so 
closely  and  miss  many  of  the  bright  and  happy 
things  that  so  many  people  enjoy.  But  the  moth- 
er's work  is  so  sacred,  and  means  so  much  to  her 
children,  that  she  can  well  afford  to  miss  a  good 
many  things  outside  which  would  be  very  pleas- 
ant." 

Often  such  an  invitation  as  this  was  given : 

'*  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  have  letters  from 
the  Home  Department  students,  bringing  to  me, 
when  they  so  desire,  questions,  difficulties,  experi- 
ences of  trouble  or  sorrow,  in  which  I  may  be  per- 
mitted to  give  a  little  assistance.'' 

The  letters  came  in  numbers.  And  always  a 
warm  personal  message  was  sent  in  answer  that 
brought  correspondents  nearer  to  the  editor's 
Friend. 

Dr.  Miller  always  emphasised  as  a  prime  requi- 
site for  successful  editorial  work  that  a  writer 
must  prepare  his  work  with  individuals  in  mind. 
To  an  associate  to  whom  he  committed  the  Home 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR    117 

Department  Quarterly  lie  expressed  his  feeling 
thus: 

^<  Try  writing  each  paragraph  with  some 
definite  home  in  mind.  Think  of  yourself  as  a 
pastor  giving  help  and  counsel  to  the  invalids 
or  the  burdened  in  that  home.  Then  your  work 
will  have  the  lifelike  quality,  and  you  will  hear 
from  many  who  will  wonder  how  you  came  to 
know  of  them.'' 

It  was  owing  to  just  such  writing  as  this  that 
Dr.  Miller  saw  the  circulation  of  the  Home  De- 
partment Quarterly  grow  within  twelve  years 
from  nothing  to  128,000. 

The  story  of  the  development  of  Forward,  the 
Sunday-school  paper  for  young  people,  is  one  of 
the  most  striking  evidences  of  Dr.  Miller's  edi- 
torial sagacity  and  ability.  When  he  began  his 
work  for  the  Board  he  dreamed  of  a  paper  that 
would  give  the  young  people  in  the  Sunday  school 
the  best  stories  and  general  articles,  and  a  page 
of  wholesome,  cheerful  Christian  counsel.  Within 
a  brief  time  the  first  number  was  sent  to  the 
schools.  The  paper  was  small,  but  clearly  it 
showed  the  characteristics  that  later  made  it  great. 
In  1897  the  pages  were  so  enlarged  that  it  became 
possible  to  carry  out  many  plans  long  held  in 
abeyance.  At  once  Forward  became  a  power.  Not 
only  the  young  people  wanted  it,  but  parents  and 
even  pastors  insisted  that  they  must  have  it.  The 
editorial  page — long  the  product  of  Dr.  Miller's 
heart  and  brain — ^was  called  ^*  the  best  editorial 


118     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

page  in  the  country. '  ^  It  was  so  simple  that  young 
people  read  it  with  delight,  and  so  suggestive  that 
pastors  said  they  found  there  the  germ  for  many 
of  their  best  sermons.  One  reader  wrote :  ^ '  I  have 
had  more  help  from  that  editorial  page  than  from 
any  other  literature  outside  the  Bible. ' '  This  mes- 
sage is  a  fair  sample  of  hundreds.  Circulation 
increased  rapidly,  until  in  1912  more  than  three 
hundred  thousand  copies  were  issued  each  week. 
Editions  furnished  to  other  churches,  under  other 
names,  brought  the  total  circulation  well  up  to- 
ward half  a  million. 

"When  the  paper  was  enlarged,  Dr.  Miller  told 
his  readers  of  his  plans : 

*^  Forward  will  have  its  words  for  home  life,  for 
school  life,  for  social  life.  It  will  seek  to  help  the 
young  people  in  their  reading,  and  in  their  choice 
of  books,  in  their  friendships,  in  their  pleasures. 
Everything  that  belongs  to  the  life  of  a  young 
man  or  a  young  woman  will  be  a  proper  subject 
for  treatment  in  its  pages. 

a  'I'liere  shall  be  no  dull  pages  in  Forivard,  no 
loose  or  careless  writing,  no  light  or  trivial  treat- 
ment of  subjects,  nothing  sensational  either  in 
matter  or  illustration,  and  yet  the  paper  will  be 
made  as  bright,  attractive  and  interesting  as  it 
will  be  possible  to  make  it.'' 

In  a  letter  to  a  contributor  he  stated  even  more 
fully  his  ideals. 

'*  No  other  young  people's  paper  in  the  land, 
with  the  single  exception  of  The  Youth's  Com- 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR    119 

panion,  reaches  so  many  young  persons,  or  exerts 
such  a  wide  influence.  It  is  thoroughly  whole- 
some. It  is  always  optimistic — ^not  a  dishearten- 
ing sentence  is  ever  admitted  to  its  columns.  Its 
aim  is  never  mere  entertainment — every  article, 
every  story,  every  briefest  paragraph,  to  be 
thought  worthy  of  publication,  must  have  some 
motive  of  helpfulness  or  inspiration.  The  paper 
thus  starts  every  week  a  great  wave  of  pure, 
wholesome  and  invigorating  influence  which  goes 
round  the  world,  and  makes  thousands  of  people 
braver,  stronger  and  happier,  and  puts  into  their 
minds  higher  thoughts  of  life's  meaning,  and 
loftier  and  more  beautiful  ideals.'' 


Readers  of  Forward  soon  learned  to  look  on  the 
editor  as  their  personal  friend  to  whom  they  could 
write  freely  about  anything  that  troubled  them. 
Once  he  wrote  editorially  of  their  letters : 

**  The  editor  refers  to  this  matter  to  say  that 
nothing  in  all  the  range  of  his  work  gives  him 
more  pleasure  than  this  personal  correspondence. 
There  is  no  more  sacred  privilege  given  to  any- 
one in  this  world  than  that  of  helping  another  in 
some  actual  experience  of  life.  The  Master  puts 
no  higher  honour  on  any  of  his  servants  than  when 
He  sends  younger  souls  to  them  to  be  guided 
through  some  perplexing  way,  sorrowing  ones  to 
be  comforted  in  their  hours  of  grief,  or  tempted 
ones  to  be  strengthened  to  endure  in  sin's  fierce 
struggle.  No  other  work  which  we  can  do  for 
men  or  women  is  more  really  the  very  work  of 
Christ  himself  than  is  this  ministry  in  life's  deep 
experiences." 


120     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

If  possible  every  routine  letter  that  left  the 
office  carried  with  it  some  kindly,  helpful  word. 
Contributors  to  Forward  and  the  other  periodicals 
learned  to  look  for  these  letters,  and  they  pre- 
served them  even  when  other  business  letters  were 
destroyed. 

One  who  began  to  write  for  the  periodicals  in 
1901  has  said : 

*^  He  never  failed  to  make  any  business  letter 
which  he  had  occasion  to  write  the  opportunity  for 
saying  a  kindly  personal  word.  Once  he  said,  '  I 
think  of  you  in  your  work  day  by  day,  and  want 
always  to  keep  near  you  in  personal  thought  and 
interest,  so  that  if  ever  you  need  me  I  can  know 
at  once.'  " 

The  receipt  of  articles  from  beginners  was  usu- 
ally followed  by  the  despatch  of  a  letter  of  coun- 
sel and  encouragement.  A  number  of  those  who 
became  valued  contributors  have  declared  that 
they  owed  their  success  in  large  part  to  his  cheer- 
ing, inspiring  words. 

One  instance  of  this  kind  may  be  told  at  some 
length.  In  1905  the  pastor  of  a  home  mission 
church  was  compelled  to  resign  his  charge  be- 
cause of  throat  trouble.  His  prospects  were  dark. 
Then  he  began  to  write,  and  sent  some  of  his  first 
articles  to  Dr.  Miller.  He  said  nothing  of  his 
needs  and  his  hopes,  but  the  sympathetic  editor 
soon  learned  the  facts.  He  was  not  content  to  per- 
mit one  whose  letters  were  frequently  on  his  desk 
to  remain  a  mere  name.    So  he  wrote : 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR     121 

^'  Tell  me  a  little  about  yourself  sometime  when 
you  are  writing,  for  I  should  like  to  know  as  much 
as  possible  about  our  writers. 


>> 


The  information  asked  for  was  given,  and  the 
two  were  at  once  on  a  friendly  footing. 

One  year  many  of  this  contributor's  manu- 
scripts were  returned  as  unavailable.  The  editor 
detected  a  note  of  despondency  in  a  letter  which 
came  from  him  just  then.    So  he  wrote : 

**  You  must  not  be  discouraged  because  some- 
times stories  of  yours  are  returned.  If  you  knew 
how  often  we  have  to  do  this  in  the  office  with  out" 
very  best  work,  you  would  not  have  a  moment  for 
such  a  thought.  Furnishing  articles  for  papers 
is  a  good  deal  like  a  salesman's  work  in  the  stores 
— bringing  goods  down  for  the  purchaser  to  look 
at.  It  is  never  expected  that  every  piece  taken 
down  and  exhibited  will  exactly  meet  the  pur- 
chaser's need." 

Again  this  contributor  was  despondent  because 
friends  had  been  condoling  with  him  on  account 
of  his  dwindling  influence:  they  told  him  it  was 
too  bad  he  had  to  give  up  the  work  of  the  ministry 
to  be  a  mere  writer  for  the  press.  Dr.  Miller 
had  just  the  right  message  for  this  time  also : 

**  The  assurance  that  words  of  yours  have 
touched  two  millions  of  lives  this  year  is  a  very 
comforting  one.  Some  day  you  will  know  what 
it  all  means.  It  is  a  great  privilege  to  be  allowed 
to  put  touches  of  beauty  upon  immortal  lives,  to 


122     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

start  impulses  toward  higlier  ideals  in  human 
hearts." 

Letters  from  the  editor  brought  him  more 
than  encouragement ;  they  were  full  of  kindly  in- 
structions for  the  new  work  for  which  the  min- 
ister was  in  training.  The  appreciative  recipient 
has  said: 

*^  Dr.  Miller  taught  me  to  forget  myself  and 
to  think  only  of  my  readers.  He  reminded  me 
that  perhaps  a  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  read- 
ers of  the  Board's  publications  are  in  country 
places,  small  towns,  villages,  or  farming  dis- 
tricts, where  their  opportunities  are  not  large, 
where  they  cannot  see  much  of  the  big  world  nor 
learn  what  is  going  on,  nor  what  the  openings  may 
be  for  usefulness  and  activity.  When  I  had  in 
preparation  a  series  for  The  Westminster 
Teacher,  he  asked  me  to  remember  in  writing 
these  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  Sunday-school 
teachers  who  would  read  them  would  be  plain 
people,  not  many  of  them  college  people,  and  that 
it  was  necessary,  therefore,  to  write  simply,  and 
not  upon  too  high  a  plane.  He  said  that  he  had 
always  tried  to  prepare  all  his  work  for  persons 
of  average  intelligence,  knowing  that  in  doing 
this  he  would  probably  help  most  even  those  more 
intelligent. ' ' 

Every  year,  at  Christmas,  it  was  Dr.  Miller's 
custom  to  send  a  personal  letter  to  his  contribu- 
tors. These  were  never  formal.  All  of  his  helpers 
expected  them,  and  they  were  never  disappointed. 

One  of  the  letters  read  thus: 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR     123 

*^  I  want  to  thank  you  for  the  great  help  you 
have  been  to  me  during  the  year  in  your  work. 
I  need  not  say  a  word  in  detail  about  what  you 
have  done,  t  merely  thank  you  for  it  all  and 
assure  you  of  sincere  and  most  hearty  apprecia- 
tion. 

''  As  the  Christmas  comes  near  my  heart  goes 
out  to  you  in  special  warmth  and  interest.  You 
know  that  your  relation  to  me  has  not  been  merely 
that  of  a  writer,  but  that  of  a  personal  friend. 
It  has  been  a  high  privilege  to  me  to  stand  by  you 
through  the  experiences  of  the  year,  experiences 
of  pain  and  sorrow,  many  of  them,  and  to  keep  you 
very  close  to  my  heart  in  sympathy,  love  and 
prayer,  all  the  while.  I  want  to  thank  you  for  all 
that  you  have  been  to  me  and  for  what  I  have 
had  the  privilege  of  being  to  you. 

^^  Let  me  wish  for  you  for  the  Christmastide 
the  sweetest  blessings,  with  the  gentlest  revealings 
of  Christ 's  grace  and  love  in  your  life.  May  it  be 
the  best  year  that  you  ever  have  lived.  May  it 
bring  an  uplift  to  you,  an  uplift  in  courage,  joy, 
strength,  peace,  victoriousness.  May  God  bless 
you  and  make  you  very  happy. ' ' 

There  are  those  who  find  it  easier  to  be  thought- 
ful of  those  who  are  far  away  than  of  those  who 
are  near  at  hand.  This  was  never  true  of  Dr. 
Miller.  He  was  always  most  considerate  and 
thoughtful  of  his  editorial  helpers.  When  he 
wished  to  see  one  of  them,  he  preferred  to  go  to 
that  one,  even  if  a  trip  into  another  room  was 
necessary.  If  he  wished  the  service  of  his  stenog- 
rapher, he  preferred  to  say  to  her,  ^*  I  have  a 
few  letters  for  you,  if  you  are  not  too  busy," 


124     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

rather  than  give  her  a  curt  direction  to  take  his 
dictation.  Always  his  associates  in  the  office 
looked  on  him  as  a  father  and  friend. 

He  was  never  too  busy  to  plan  for  their  comfort. 
On  a  rainy  afternoon,  knowing  that  the  cars  would 
be  unusually  crowded  by  the  rush  of  men  and 
women  going  home  at  &ve  o'clock,  he  would  fre- 
quently ask  them  to  leave  at  ten  minutes  to  &Ye, 
in  order  that  they  might  have  seats.  On  a  spe- 
cially warm  day  in  summer  he  would  be  apt  to 
send  out  for  a  generous  quantity  of  ice  cream  for 
*^  my  editorial  girls/'  as  he  called  them.  But  his 
kindly  interest  went  further  than  this.  He  en- 
tered into  their  lives.  He  knew  their  circum- 
stances, and  followed  with  interest  the  fortunes  of 
other  members  of  the  household. 

Although  he  hardly  knew  what  it  was  to  take 
a  vacation,  he  always  insisted  on  the  period  of 
summer  rest  and  refreshment  for  the  assistants. 
He  would  write  them  a  message  of  good-bye  as 
they  started,  they  would  be  apt  to  hear  from  him 
while  absent,  and  his  welcome  was  sent  on  their 
return.  During  the  summer  of  1911,  although  him- 
self under  the  care  of  a  physician,  he  wrote  from 
Atlantic  City  to  his  secretary  these  notes : 

**  I  am  not  writing  letters,  but  I  send  just  this 
little  note  to  assure  you  and  your  mother  of 
loving  thought  these  days.  I  hope  you  are  both 
enjoying  your  stay  at  Ocean  City.  You  are  meet- 
ing lots  of  friends,  I  think.  Stay  as  long  as  you 
can.'' 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR    125 


a 


This  is  just  to  welcome  you  back  to  the  office. 
I  hope  you  have  had  a  good  time  and  that  both 
yon  and  your  mother  are  well." 

In  September,  1910,  after  an  absence  of  three 
months  caused  by  illness,  he  wrote  this  letter  to 
^'  The  Good  Friends  of  the  Editorial  Depart- 
ment ' ' : 

*^  I  want  to  thank  you  for  your  faithfulness  dur- 
ing the  summer  when  I  have  been  necessarily  ab- 
sent. I  had  not  a  moment's  anxiety,  knowing 
that  you  were  all  in  your  places  and  that  every 
item  of  the  work  would  be  carefully  attended  to, 
so  that  nothing  would  be  neglected  or  overlooked, 
nothing  scamped.  I  am  not  surprised,  therefore, 
to  find  my  confidence  realised  and  to  find  that 
everything  has  gone  on  so  beautifully.  I  do  not 
believe  there  is  another  editorial  office  in  the  coun- 
try in  which  all  the  work  is  so  splendidly  organ- 
ised, and  in  which  the  personnel  of  the  office  is 
so  happy,  so  loyal  to  duty,  so  conscientious,  so 
kindly  in  spirit,  in  every  way  so  beautiful  and 
worthy.  No  other  editor  could  be  away  nearly 
three  months  as  I  have  been  and  come  back  to 
find  that  there  have  been  no  mistakes  made,  no 
blunders,  no  careless  performances  of  duty,  but 
that  all  has  gone  on  just  as  well  as  if  he  had 
been  at  his  desk  every  day. 

**  I  can  only  thank  you,  one  and  all,  for  your 
diligence  and  fidelity,  and  assure  you  of  confi- 
dence and  loving  interest  in  the  days  to  come. 

**  As  we  enter  another  year  of  work  together 
I  am  sure  we  will  be  happy.  I  have  no  new  re- 
quirements to  exact.  Let  me  make  these  simple 
suggestions  for  1910-1911. 


126     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 


a 


We  will  work  together  in  love,  in  patience,  in 
kindness,  in  mutual  thoughtfulness  and  helpful- 
ness. 

'  *  We  will  make  this  the  best  year  ever  we  have 
lived,  in  personal  life,  in  habits,  in  character,  and 
in  our  work  in  the  office, — even  surpassing  our 
best  in  the  past. 

''  We  will  be  in  our  places  in  the  office  at  least 
five  minutes  before  nine  every  morning,  so  as  to 
be  ready  for  our  work  by  nine  o'clock. 

^^  We  will  study  our  particular  work  and  master 
all  its  smallest  details,  making  ourselves  more 
and  more  proficient,  that  when  we  have  no  definite 
assigned  tasks  we  shall  not  be  idle  but  shall  our- 
selves find  something  to  do  that  will  prepare  us 
for  better  usefulness. 

*^  I  cannot  begin  to  tell  you  of  the  depth  and 
sincerity  of  my  interest  in  each  one  of  you.  I 
want  you  to  let  me  be  your  personal  friend.  If 
you  have  any  difficulty,  trouble,  sorrow,  anxiety, 
or  any  question  which  you  would  like  to  bring  to 
me,  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  give  you  any  cheer 
or  help  I  can.'' 

One  who  was  his  assistant  for  years  in  the 
editing  of  Forward  told  of  his  kindness  and  help- 
fulness in  the  office. 

*^  No  one  could  be  with  Dr.  Miller  and  not 
be  both  shamed  and  inspired  by  his  daily  exam- 
ple. He  was  one  of  the  quietest,  simplest  and 
humblest  of  workers;  but  his  work  shone  out  in 
its  completeness  and  its  ungrudgingness,  and 
made  me  unsatisfied  with  any  other  kind.  It  was 
an  education  to  work  under  him.  He  seldom 
criticised  and  he  loved  to  praise — but  a  shirker 


THIRTY-TWO  YEARS  AN  EDITOR    127 

could  not  live  in  his  atmospliere,  just  the  same, 
and  soon  faded  away  from  the  staff.  Those  who 
remained  were  knit  to  Dr.  Miller  as  his  friends. 
He  was  interested  in  their  lives,  and  anxious  to 
have  them  reach  their  best. ' ' 

That  Dr,  Miller  thought  of  the  employees  of 
other  departments  in  the  large  etablishment  as 
well  as  of  his  own  was  shown  when  in  1910  he 
talked  with  other  heads  of  departments  of  ways 
to  make  the  workers'  lives  brighter.  As  a  result 
of  his  counsel  and  encouragement  The  West- 
minster Club  was  organised  by  the  heads  of  de- 
partments and  their  associates.  Monthly  meet- 
ings were  arranged  for.  At  these  meetings  plans 
were  perfected  for  welfare  work  among  the  em- 
ployees of  the  Board,  who  then  numbered  nearly 
one  hundred.  At  the  beginning  of  1911  an  oppor- 
tunity was  given  to  all  employees  to  deposit 
weekly  in  The  Westminster  Savings  Fund.  Thus 
many  were  taught  to  save  who  had  always  spent 
all  they  earned.  The  annual  gathering  of  The 
Westminster  Club  was  made  an  open  meeting, 
when  all  employees  were  invited  to  a  supper. 
Dr.  Miller  and  Dr.  Henry,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board,  being  the  hosts. 

Dr.  Miller  was  the  first  president  of  the  club. 
At  the  close  of  his  term  this  letter  of  thankful 
appreciation  was  sent  to  him,  signed  by  all  the 
members : 

**  On  the  occasion  of  our  first  anniversary  meet- 
ing, we,  the  undersigned  members  of  The  West- 


128     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

minster  Club,  wish  to  tell  you  of  the  joy  it  has 
been  to  us  to  have  you  as  our  first  president.  We 
feel  that  the  helpfulness  of  the  club  has  been  in 
large  measure  due  to  your  wise  counsel,  your  con- 
stant thought,  your  inspiring  presence.  We  re- 
joice that  you  have  been  able  to  meet  with  us 
so  many  times  this  year,  and  we  are  glad  to  look 
forward  to  other  meetings  when  you  will  rejoice 
us  by  your  presence. 

**  We  thank  God  for  the  years  of  your  service 
as  Editorial  Superintendent  of  the  Board,  and  for 
the  special  privilege  that  has  been  given  us  of 
coming  in  touch  with  you  in  your  work.  Some 
of  us  do  not  see  you  very  often,  but  the  same 
impression  is  made  on  all  of  us  when  we  do  see 
you,  we  feel  that  we  are  in  the  presence  of  one 
whose  religion  is  so  well  expressed  by  your  own 
words, '  Jesus  and  I  are  friends.'  By  your  words, 
by  acts,  by  your  sympathetic  letters,  you  bring 
us  into  His  presence. 

**  We  thank  you  for  the  gift  of  remembrance 
sent  us  this  evening.  Your  photograph  will  be 
a  treasured  possession,  as  your  friendship  is  a 
cherished  fact." 

During  these  last  years  of  Dr.  Miller's  service, 
when  he  seemed  busier  than  ever  in  manifold 
ways,  a  friend  asked  him  to  tejl  the  secret  of  his 
ability  to  get  so  much  done.  His  answer  was,  ^  ^  I 
never  worry,  and  I  try  never  to  lose  a  minute." 
A  brother  editor,  commenting  on  these  words, 
said : 

*^  Here  was  a  divinely  guided  economist  in  the 
art  of  life.    There  was  no  burning  of  the  brakes, 


THIRTY-TWO  YEAES  AN  EDITOR    129 

no  overstraining  of  the  engine,  no  inordinate  re- 
pair needed  after  the  daily  journey,  but  a  mech- 
anism closely  geared  to  its  work  with  as  little 
lost  motion  as  possible,  and  a  spirit  within  the 
machine  that  was  so  much  in  fellowship  with  the 
Spirit  of  God  that  his  life  was  not  subjected  to 
the  terrific  and  sinful  strain  of  anxious  concern 
over  the  outcome  of  any  day.  Now  he  did  not 
achieve  this  life  course  by  daily  struggle,  but 
rather  by  daily  yielding  to  the  daily  guidance  and 
control  of  his  heavenly  Father. ' ' 

A  briefer  statement  of  the  reason  for  Dr.  Mil- 
ler's efficiency  was  given  by  Dr.  M.  C.  Hazard,  long 
editor  of  the  Congregational  Sunday  School  and 
Publishing  Society,  when  he  said : 

**  He  came  as  near  as  man  may  to  embodying 
what  is  said  about  love  in  the  thirteenth  chapter  of 
First  Corinthians.  *  Love  suffereth  long,  and  is 
kind;  love  envieth  not;  love  vaunteth  not  itself, 
is  not  puffed  up,  .  .  .  seeketh  not  its  own,  .  .  . 
taketh  not  account  of  evil;  .  .  .  believeth  all 
things,  .  .  .  endureth  all  things.  Love  never 
faileth.'  " 


HOW  EDITORIAL  ASSOCIATES  VIEWED 

HIS  WORK 


We  are  likest  to  Christ  when  we  are  nearest  to  the  hearts 
of  men,  when  our  sympathies  are  widest,  when  we  are  the 
gentlest,  when  our  hands  are  readiest  to  minister. — From 
*'  One  Thing  I  Do,"  in  ^'  Finding  the  Way." 

We  do  not  begin  to  understand  what  our  lives  mean  to 
others  who  see  us  and  are  touched  by  us.  It  is  possible  to 
do  too  much  advising  or  exhorting  of  others,  but  we  never 
can  do  too  much  beautiful  living.  One  can  send  a  blessed 
influence  out  through  a  whole  community,  just  by  being  a 
splendid  man.  He  may  not  be  eloquent  or  brilliant,  he  may 
not  be  a  statesman,  an  architect,  a  distinguished  leader,  a 
noted  physician  or  surgeon,  a  gifted  orator,  but  simply  to  be 
a  worthy,  noble,  good  man  for  ten,  twenty,  thirty  years  in  a 
community,  is  an  achievement  gloriously  worth  while.  Men 
who  are  living  nobly  do  not  begin  to  know  how  many  others 
are  living  well,  too,  just  because  they  are. — From  ^'  A  Call  to 
Christian  Manliness"  in  '^  The  Gate  Beautiful." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

HOW  EDITORIAL  ASSOCIATES  VIEWED 

HIS  WORK 

When  at  last  the  unwearied  worker  had  entered 
on  his  larger  service  in  the  world  beyond,  several 
of  those  who  had  been  most  intimately  associated 
with  him  in  his  editorial  work  wrote  of  him  and 
his  achievements. 

One  of  these  was  Judge  Robert  N.  Willson,  since 
1889  President  of  the  Board  of  Publication: 

**  Dr.  Miller's  life  touched  mine  in  more  ways 
than  one,  and  my  association  with  him  ran  through 
many  years.  His  home  was  for  a  long  time  di- 
rectly opposite  my  own,  and  his  children  and  mine 
grew  up  together  as  close  neighbours  and  friends. 
The  ties  thus  formed  of  personal  relationship 
were  never  forgotten  in  the  close  official  connec- 
tion which  existed  between  Dr.  Miller  and  myself 
for  many  years. 

^  *  Indeed  it  may  be  said  that  the  characteristics 
he  displayed  as  a  man  were  largely  responsible  for 
the  success  which  came  to  him  in  his  capacity  as 
editor  and  writer.  Sincerity,  simplicity,  gener- 
osity, frankness  and  tact  were  conspicuous  factors 
in  his  equipment  for  work.  He  possessed  a  rare 
faculty  of  fairness  and  poise  of  judgment  and  ex- 
pression in  regard  to  matters  as  to  which  opinions 
differed.    His  industry  was  indefatigable,  and  his 

133 


134     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

devotion  to  the  work  of  our  Board  whicli  was  en- 
trusted to  him  was  most  marked.  He  was  loyal  to 
our  Church,  to  its  doctrines  and  polity,  and  he 
endeavoured  with  sincerity  and  integrity  to  dis- 
charge his  duties  as  editor  in  that  spirit  of  loyalty. 

'*  He  had  a  rare  faculty  for  collecting  and  re- 
taining for  ready  use  incidents,  illustrations  and 
quotations  of  a  simple,  practical  character,  which 
he  used  with  great  effect  in  his  brief  articles,  as 
well  as  in  the  books  that  came  from  his  mind  and 
heart. 

*  *  The  simplicity  of  his  style,  and  the  sympathy, 
natural  and  overflowing,  that  was  expressed  by  his 
words,  made  his  utterances  attractive  and  helpful 
to  young  and  old.  No  religious  writer  of  whom  I 
have  knowledge,  has  ever  touched  the  sorrowing 
heart  with  a  softer  and  more  comforting  balm  than 
did  Dr.  Miller. 

'^  He  was  a  great  editor  and  a  manly  man.  It 
would  have  been  a  great  mistake  if  anyone  had  in- 
ferred from  his  mild  and  gentle  conduct  that  he 
was  without  force  of  character  or  positiveness  of 
opinion.  These  strong  qualities  he  possessed,  but 
in  sure  control,  and  under  the  cover  of  a  warm 
heart  and  a  kindly  nature. 

''  Our  Church,  in  my  opinion,  will  never  obtain 
a  wiser,  abler  or  more  successful  editor  of  its 
publications. ' ' 

Professor  W.  Brenton  Greene,  D.D.,  of  Prince- 
ton Seminary,  chairman  of  the  Board's  Editorial 
Committee,  said: 

**  Dr.  Miller  was  not  a  man  to  be  estimated  as 
I  would  estimate  myself  or  other  men.  He  was  in 
a  class  by  himself.    I  used  to  feel  thus  whenever 


ASSOCIATES^  VIEW  OF  HIS  WOEK    135 

I  contemplated  the  work  that  he  did.  I  do  not 
refer  to  his  combination  of  the  pastorate  of  a 
great  church  with  his  editorial  functions  or  his 
putting  himself,  in  addition  to  all  this,  at  the  un- 
limited disposal  of  anyone  who  needed  him;  but  I 
refer  simply  to  his  editorial  functions.  The  Sab- 
bath-school literature  of  our  Church,  both  in  its 
extent  and  in  its  quality,  literary  and  spiritual 
alike,  is  a  monument  of  industry  and  ability  that 
would  be  incredible  if  we  had  not  ourselves  wit- 
nessed them  in  operation  so  long  as  to  have  be- 
come accustomed  to  them.  Yet  he  never  seemed 
hurried;  he  was  never  nervous ;  he  was  never  back 
in  his  work.  At  first  I  could  only  look  on  in  won- 
der ;  I  now  look  back  in  reverence. 

^^  Then  there  was  his  progressiveness.  Other 
men,  as  they  grow  older,  even  the  best  of  them, 
drop  from  the  head  of  the  column.  Dr.  Miller 
never  did.  He  died  at  the  head  of  it.  He  was 
never  more  full  of  plans  for  the  improvement  of 
our  Sabbath-school  literature  than  during  the  last 
years  of  his  earthly  life. 

*'  Perhaps,  however,  it  is  as  a  religious  editor 
and  writer  that  we  think  of  him  as  greatest.  He 
popularised  religion  in  his  books.  Who  else  in 
our  day  have  done  it!  Who  of  them,  at  all  events, 
have  done  it  as  he  did  it?  If  we  consider  both  the 
number  and  the  sale  of  his  books,  I  think  that 
we  must  pronounce  him  the  greatest  religious 
writer  of  our  day." 

A  veteran  pastor  and  editor  gave  this  remarka- 
ble tribute : 

^*  The  efficiency  of  Dr.  Miller  as  editor  and 
executive   was   highly   complex  in  process   and 


136     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

product,  but  its  secret  is  simple.  A  tornado  has 
been  known  to  drive  a  soft  pine  board,  end  on, 
through  the  bole  of  a  hardwood  tree  without  frac- 
ture of  the  board.  Dr.  Miller's  character  was  dis- 
ciplined to  compactness  of  fibre ;  but  also  he  had 
accumulated  the  tremendous  momentum  of  a  man 
consciously  operating  ^  under  authority,'  and  thus 
had  constantly  back  of  him  the  incalculable  force 
of  the  Unseen.  From  his  early  years  he  accus- 
tomed himself  to  be  in  vitalising,  close  and  con- 
stant touch  with  God,  acquiring  a  profound,  ten- 
der and  intimate  sense  of  his  presence  as  Father, 
Redeemer,  Lord,  Guide,  Friend,  Comrade  and 
Portion.  His  life  thus  became  saturated  with  a 
sense  of  obligation  to  *  redeem  the  time,'  or  as 
the  phrase  is  now  read,  to  ^  buy  up  opportunity  ' ; 
so  that,  automatically,  waste  of  energy  and  time 
was  eliminated.  He  prolonged  no  interview  in 
dilatory  pleasure  or  pause  of  vacancy  or  inde- 
cision; no  speech  or  writing  was  pressed  beyond 
due  limits ;  prompt  to  begin  a  task,  he  was  direct 
and  quietly  forceful  in  the  performance,  and  fac- 
ile in  adjustment  and  transfer;  and  he  always 
knew  when  to  quit.  No  wilfulness,  no  selfishness, 
no  momentary  vacuity,  remained  perceptible 
among  his  traits  so  that  he  easily  weeded  out  from 
his  manner  and  utterance  all  that  could  hinder  or 
offend,  and  thus  became  distinguished  for  noise- 
less and  effective  performance.  And  we  must 
add  to  this  his  genius  for  friendships,  which  gave 
accumulative  power  to  his  work  as  organiser  and 
leader. 

**  The  depths  of  his  secret  are  not  probed  until 
we  reach  the  magic  word,  love.  Probably  more 
than  any  other  executive  of  his  time,  his  life 
served  to  redeem  that  word  from  the  sentimen- 
tality, inanity  and  feebleness  which  characterise 


ASSOCIATES'  VIEW  OF  HIS  WORK    137 

the  common  notion  of  its  meaning.  With  him  love 
was  absorbed  direct  from  God,  and  thus  had 
breadth,  depth,  height  and  scope;  substance,  tang 
and  force;  the  texture  of  polished  steel;  the  mo- 
mentum of  light;  the  propelling  power  of  elec- 
tricity and  the  generative  force  of  a  great  dy- 
namo; directness  of  action  like  that  of  gravity, 
with  its  impeccable  precision;  and  the  rhythmic 
harmony  of  perfect  machinery.  *  God  is  love,' 
and  J.  R.  Miller  was  God's  own  child,  to  a  very 
remarkable  degree  reflecting  the  likeness  and  re- 
producing the  majestic  but  quiet  force  of  Him  who 
is  set  before  us  as  '  the  express  image  '  of  our 
heavenly  Father ;  so  that  in  his  career,  somewhat 
as — supremely — in  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  come 
to  see  how  practical  and  potent  genuine  love  is, 
how  fit  for  harnessing  to  the  wheels  of  daily  life 
and  modern  enterprise,  how  skilful  in  adjusting 
effort  to  human  machinery  and  providential  oc- 
casion. 

'^  Presbyterianism  has  always  been  supposed 
to  be  distinguished  for  system  and  intellectual 
quality,  and  to  be  peculiarly  hospitable  to  the 
arts  of  literature;  but  until  the  year  1880  the 
critical  were  wont  to  deplore  a  painful  lack  of 
all  this  in  our  official  publications  addressed  to 
youth.  That  in  1912  this  status  has  been  re- 
versed is  largely  due,  under  God,  to  the  wisdom, 
piety,  skill  and  persistence  of  Dr.  Miller.  To 
have  developed  either  The  Westminster  Teacher, 
or  Forivard,  would  of  itself  have  been  enough  to 
mark  an  era.  To  have  developed  the  one  and 
created  the  other,  to  have  transformed  the  Visitor 
into  The  Comrade  and  to  have  developed  the  com- 
plete and  close- jointed  series  of  high-grade  quar- 
terlies which  culminate  in  the  Teacher,  was  to 
bring  our  denomination  well  abreast  of  the  times 


138     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

thus  far,  as  related  to  the  unfolding  needs  of  our 
Sunday-school  work;  to  justify  anew  its  reputa- 
tion for  weight  and  momentum ;  and  thus  to  attach 
its  tentacles  firmly  and  diversely  to  remarkable 
providential  opportunity  as  related  to  the  train- 
ing of  the  young  in  a  day  of  growing  laxity  and 
appalling  change. 

^'  To  meet  the  disheartening  conditions  due  to 
widespread  decay  of  family  worship,  home  train- 
ing, and  catechetical  instruction,  to  rapid  absorp- 
tion of  unschooled  masses  by  the  Church,  and  to 
bewildering  changes  in  forms  of  thought  and  in 
educational  methods,  was  a  task  to  call  for  more 
of  delicacy,  tact,  force,  industry,  varied  knowl- 
edge, practical  wisdom  and  executive  skill  than 
any  one  man  could  be  expected  to  compass;  yet 
under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Miller  this  has  to 
a  notable  degree  been  effected  within  the  bounds 
of  our  body;  and  it  has  been  so  effected  as  to 
organise  effort  for  smoothly  and  rapidly  devel- 
oping the  large  enterprise  as  occasion  may  re- 
quire in  the  future.  Dr.  Miller,  in  the  spirit  and 
to  a  remarkable  degree  with  the  skill  of  the  Mas- 
ter, so  shaped  his  labour  and  so  impressed  on  it 
the  stamp  of  his  personality,  as  to  pave  the  way 
for  its  increasing  efficiency  at  the  hands  of  his 
successors  amid  the  unfolding  conditions  of  the 
generations  to  come. 

*^  This  is  far  from  all  that  his  varied  and  un- 
tiring industry  effected  in  the  organic  educational 
and  literary  work  of  the  Church.  His  own  books, 
and  his  editorial  services  in  the  book  department 
of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication,  set  new 
standards  of  quality  and  aim,  addressed  with 
kindly  shrewdness  to  the  changing  conditions  of 
thought  and  life.  Denominational  acerbities  dis- 
appear under  his  touch.    Needless  frictions  are 


ASSOCIATES'  VIEW  OF  HIS  WORK    139 

abated.  Truth  is  so  presented  as  to  seem  at  once 
weighty  and  winsome.  Inanities,  crudities,  dis- 
cords, clumsiness  and  antiquated  forms  cease  to 
clog  our  literary  machinery.  Doctrinal  soundness 
becomes  wedded  to  an  engaging  manner  and  mod- 
ern attire.  The  entire  output  of  our  publications 
is  on  a  higher  level  and  wears  new  charm.  Sub- 
soil tillage  clothes  worn  fields  of  truth  with  living 
green  and  adorns  the  very  roadside  with  fruitage 
and  bloom.  Books  and  periodicals  become  good 
to  look  at,  easy  to  read,  and  no  longer  adulterated 
with  materials  nauseous  to  taste  and  trying  to 
digestion.  The  entire  work  of  generating  an  au- 
thoritative Christian  literature  has  to  a  notable 
degree  been  unostentatiously  rejuvenated,  and  in- 
fected with  new  vigour  and  attractiveness. 

*'  How  did  he  so  accurately  forecast  events, 
show  such  skill  in  selecting  assistants  and  asso- 
-ciates,  acquire  such  sanity  of  judgment,  so  fully 
and  firmly  grasp  a  novel  and  complex  situation, 
and  maintain  such  indomitable  and  diversified  in- 
dustry to  the  end?  Where  did  he  secure  such  sin- 
gular wisdom  in  adjusting  his  methods  at  once 
to  the  exacting  machinery  of  denominationalism, 
to  the  vigorous  mechanism  of  print,  publication 
and  finance,  and  to  the  needs  and  appetites  of  his 
vast  and  inchoate  public?  The  answer  is  that  all 
this  was  a  vital  outgrowth  and  product.  The 
tides  of  the  divine  life  coursed  freely  through 
his  spare  frame,  and  were  laboriously  wrought 
into  all  his  energies  and  capabilities.  He  was  a 
man  of  heart,  and  at  the  same  time  of  ideas, 
method,  momentum  and  ceaseless  activity.  His 
achievements,  here  as  in  other  domains  of  toil,  are 
the  embodiment  of  his  spirit,  his  conception  and 
his  unhurried  but  ceaseless  labour. 

**  He  brought  to  his  great  task  a  life  thoroughly 


140     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

disciplined.  He  had  scliooled  himself  to  be  al- 
ways gentle,  considerate,  appreciative,  wary;  and 
thns  he  seldom  or  never  failed  in  his  judgment 
of  persons  sought  as  associates  and  helpers,  nor 
in  winning  and  inspiring  them,  and  in  holding 
them  steadfast.  He  had  acquired  decision  of 
character,  serenity  of  spirit,  a  persuasive  win- 
someness  of  manner,  and  an  aromatic  piety  fed 
daily  at  the  springs.  If  *  the  final  aim  of  art  is 
to  reveal  the  attractiveness  of  personality,'  then 
Dr.  Miller  was  a  great  artist.  But  he  did  not  ar- 
rive at  his  unique  power  of  specific  and  large 
achievement  without  assiduous  toil  reaching  daily 
to  the  roots  of  his  being.  Sympathetic  study  of 
Dr.  Miller,  perhaps  most  notably  in  presence  of 
his  career  as  editor,  is  that  most  interesting  and 
alluring  thing,  the  study  of  a  gracious  and  charm- 
ing personality  highly  vitalised  by  the  Spirit  of 
God." 

A  more  intimate  message  was  given  by  Louis 
F.  Benson,  D.D.,  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
Board's  Editorial  Committee: 


**  When  I  became  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Publication,  now  many  years  ago,  Dr.  Miller  was 
well  started  on  his  work  as  Editorial  Superin- 
tendent, but  had  not  as  yet  developed  the  period- 
icals and  lesson  helps  to  anything  like  their  pres- 
ent proportions.  His  beautiful  character  and  per- 
sonality, and  something  of  his  work  and  writings, 
were  of  course  already  known  to  me,  but  I  was 
nevertheless  by  no  means  prepared  for  all  that 
I  found  in  him,  and  for  the  remarkable  develop- 
ment of  the  periodical  work  under  his  hands  of 
which  I  became  the  witness. 


ASSOCIATES^  VIEW  OF  HIS  WOEK    141 


iC 


The  scope  of  the  Board's  work  is  very  wide, 
and  few  of  its  members  can  be  expected  to  have 
the  time  and  ability  to  cover  the  whole  area.  One 
has  to  choose  the  special  department  in  which  he 
hopes  his  own  resources  or  experience  can  con- 
tribute something  to  the  common  stock.  In  this 
way  my  own  attention  was  turned  toward  the 
periodical  and  book-making  sides  of  the  Board's 
work,  and  I  came  into  very  close  personal  and 
official  relations  with  Dr.  Miller. 

* '  To  know  him  intimately  was  a  great  privilege 
to  any  man,  and  such  knowledge  had  inevitably  a 
retroactive  effect.  Your  heart  went  out  to  him 
for  what  he  was,  and  in  the  process  of  admiration 
and  affection,  it  became  greatly  enriched  also. 
His  point  of  view  was  so  high,  his  aims  were  so 
unselfish,  his  methods  were  so  self-denying,  that 
you  could  not  but  regard  them  with  a  deep  ad- 
miration and  even  reverence;  but  with  them  all 
you  discovered  a  humility  that  was  not  a  garment 
but  a  constitution.  You  came  to  feel  that  it  was 
not  your  admiration  that  was  being  sought,  nor 
any  expression  of  it  that  was  wanted,  but  only 
your  sympathy  in  the  aims  and  the  work.  Your 
special  task  was  not  to  compliment  Dr.  Miller, 
but  to  try  to  lift  yourself,  for  the  occasion  at 
least,  to  the  level  which  with  him  was  habitual. 

^*  The  first  impression  I  gained  of  him  in  his 
official  capacity  was  the  perfect  ease  with  which 
he  did  his  work.  I  had  indeed  the  feeling  that 
he  was  a  man  larger  than  his  sphere;  though  he 
meanwhile  was  already  planning  and  preparing 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  work  to  its  present 
proportions.  He  was  a  born  editor  and  writer, 
and  the  most  indefatigable  worker  I  have  ever 
known.  The  time,  pressure  and  the  creak  of  the 
machinery  in   periodical   work   were   no   incon- 


142     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

venience  or  cause  of  nervousness.  His  '  thousand 
words  '  were  always  ready  when  wanted ;  but  their 
writing  could  at  any  time  be  suspended  at  the  call 
of  anyone  who  wanted  his  judgment  or  his  help. 
It  was,  however,  not  the  ease  of  his  writing  that 
was  the  phenomenon,  but  its  unfailing  accepta- 
bility. We  have  the  high  authority  of  Sir  Robert- 
son Nicoll  (in  The  British  Weekly  for  July  25, 
1912)  for  saying  that  Dr.  Miller  may  *  be  justly 
called  the  most  popular  religious  writer  of  his 
time.'  We  think  of  such  a  position  as  won  by 
unfailing  discipline  of  the  mind,  the  diligent  study 
of  great  models,  the  conscious  culture  of  literary 
style.  In  Dr.  Miller's  case  it  seemed  to  be  won 
rather  by  the  simpler  expedient  of  being  himself 
and  of  speaking  in  the  way  natural  to  him.  He 
loved  others,  and  by  loving  them  understood  them. 
He  addressed  literally  millions  of  people,  and  each 
one  of  them  felt  his  personal  touch  and  was  con- 
scious of  the  ministry  of  love.  He  had  only  one 
theme,  the  beauty  of  being  better  than  we  are.  It 
is  said  that  he  repeated  himself;  and  that  saying 
probably  reveals  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  success. 
He  was  no  more  afraid  of  repeating  himself  than 
life  itself  is. 

*^  Much  of  his  work  for  the  Board  was  the  ex- 
position of  Scripture.  It  was  done  with  a  min- 
imum of  apparatus.  He  liked  the  Cambridge 
Bible  best  as  the  framework  for  his  exposition; 
and  it  was  not  a  learned  exposition.  What  con- 
cerned him  was  the  application  of  Scripture  to 
life.  He  was  not  unaware  of  the  progress  of  his- 
torical criticism,  but  his  religious  experience  was 
of  a  character  so  intimate,  that  he  felt  lifted  above 
the  problems  of  criticism,  and  into  that  serene  air 
he  attempted  to  lift  his  readers  also.  Incidentally 
he  kept  the  Board  of  Publication  outside  the  arena 


ASSOCIATES^  VIEW  OF  HIS  WORK    143 

of  controversy  in  periods  of  some  agitation  in  the 
Church. 

'*■  When  he  began  to  realise  his  projects  for  the 
improvement  of  the  young  people's  literature  and 
the  lesson  helps,  he  called  me  into  innumerable 
conferences,  and  consulted  me  at  every  step.  The 
effect,  however,  was  to  make  apparent  to  me  that 
he  had  not  only  editorial  experience  but  some- 
thing that  may  be  called  editorial  instinct  or  even 
genius.  He  had  nothing  whatever  to  learn  from 
me  that  could  frame  or  modify  his  own  decisions. 
I  came  to  feel  that  in  offering  hearty  cooperation, 
warm  sympathy  and  earnest  support  to  his  proj- 
ects, I  was  doing  the  best  the  circumstances  of 
our  official  relations  made  possible.  And  I  cherish 
the  assurance  that  in  that  way  I  became  something 
of  a  comfort  to  him.  In  all  our  relations  I  had 
never  a  discomfort  or  question,  except  only  the 
abiding  knowledge  that  he  was  overworked.  This 
he  never  once  acknowledged,  and  only  in  repeated 
efforts  to  relieve  him  was  there  any  lack  of  co- 
operation on  his  part. 

**  Forward  may  stand  as  a  monument  of  Dr. 
Miller's  editorial  genius;  for  what  it  is  and  for 
what  it  has  compelled  its  rivals  to  become.  It 
was  his  conception,  and  to  his  constant  super- 
vision and  planning  its  wonderful  success  and  in- 
fluence are  due.  But  even  it  does  not  measure  his 
editorial  capacity.  He  was  capable  of  giving  this 
country  a  great  religious  newspaper,  like  The 
British  Weekly,  and  he  cherished  such  a  hope. 
Very  often  I  have  talked  the  matter  over  with 
him.  Offers  came  to  him  from  the  outside  looking 
toward  such  a  project.  Even  within  the  Board 
of  Publication  the  matter  was  discussed,  but  de- 
nominational restrictions  made  such  an  undertak- 
ing impracticable.    The  need  of  such  a  periodical 


144     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

remains,  but  I  doubt  if  anyone  can  be  found  whose 
personality  and  gifts  would  bring  to  it  the  as- 
sured welcome  that  would  have  come  with  Dr. 
Miller  at  its  head. 

**  Now  that  he  is  dead,  more  appealing  even 
than  the  measure  of  the  work  he  accomplished  is 
the  memory  of  the  spirit  in  which  he  worked. 
One^s  own  ideal  of  faithful  service  tends  to  as- 
sume a  likeness  to  his  person,  and  so  becomes  his 
best  memorial.'' 


THE  AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS 


Not  many  of  us  are  living  at  our  best.  We  linger  in  the 
lowlands  because  we  are  afraid  to  climb  into  the  mountains. 
The  steepness  and  ruggedness  dismay  us,  and  so  we  stay  in 
the  misty  valleys  and  do  not  learn  the  mystery  of  the  hills. 
We  do  not  know  what  we  lose  in  our  self-indulgence,  what 
glory  awaits  us  if  only  we  had  courage  for  the  mountain  climb, 
what  blessing  we  should  find  if  only  we  would  move  to  the 
uplands  of  God. — From  ''  The  Preface,"  in  "  Unto  the  HillsJ^ 

We  should  begin  now  to  live  the  immortal  life,  to  practise 
immortality.  We  should  think  and  plan  and  choose,  these 
common  days,  for  immortality.  We  should  do  nothing  we 
should  ever  wish  we  had  not  done.  We  should  say  no  words 
we  shall  ever  want  unsaid.  We  should  build  only  fabrics  we 
shall  be  glad  to  look  upon  in  endless  years.  Immortality  has 
begun  already  in  the  youngest  life.  It  is  not  something  we 
shall  enter  upon  when  we  get  to  heaven.  It  is  going  on  now 
in  the  schoolroom,  on  the  playground,  in  the  friendships  and 
amusements  of  the  young  people,  and  in  all  their  hours,  how- 
ever spent.  We  must  practise  immortality  all  our  days  if 
we  would  realise  its  fullest  meaning. — From  "  The  Meaning 
of  Immortality/'  in  '^  The  Book  of  Comfort." 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS 

Dr.  Miller's  first  books  were  prepared  in  answer 
to  the  clamour  of  those  who  heard  his  sermons  on 
Sunday  and  read  his  helpful,  stimulating  articles 
in  The  Westminster  Teacher,  The  Sunday  School 
Times,  and  other  periodicals.  The  first  volume 
was  issued  in  1880;  two  final  volumes  from  his  pen 
were  given  to  the  public  in  the  fall  of  1912,  these 
having  been  planned  and  prepared  during  his  last 
months  on  earth.  In  all  more  than  sixty  books 
and  booklets  were  issued,  the  total  circulation  dur- 
ing his  lifetime  being  more  than  two  million 
copies.  Not  only  were  they  in  demand  in  America 
and  Great  Britain,  and  all  the  colonies,  but  in 
other  foreign  lands  as  well.  One  or  more  volumes 
have  been  translated  into  German,  French,  Italian 
and  Norwegian.  The  claim  made  by  his  pub- 
lishers that  Dr.  Miller  is  '^  the  most  widely  read 
devotional  writer  in  the  world  ''  is  well  founded. 
The  reason  for  this  popularity  was  easily  seen 
by  anyone  who  knew  him  and  his  methods  of 
work.  During  the  week  he  lived  close  to  people. 
He  saw  them  in  their  homes  and  in  his  office  and 
entered  into  the  deepest  secrets  of  their  hearts. 
On  Saturday  afternoon  and  evening  he  thought 

147 


148     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

over  the  week,  and  prepared  his  sermons  for  Sun- 
day. On  Sunday  he  gave  his  people  messages 
that  reached  their  hearts  because  they  were  pre- 
pared with  a  sympathetic  knowledge  of  their 
needs.  On  Monday,  from  the  sermons  of  Sunday, 
articles  would  be  written  for  the  papers.  Almost 
at  once  after  publication  messages  would  begin 
to  come  from  those  who  had  been  helped  by  read- 
ing them.  In  a  few  months  a  new  volume  would 
be  made  up  by  revising  and  rewriting  the  articles 
which  had  already  served  double  duty.  This  vol- 
ume would  not  be  long  out  of  the  publishers'  hands 
before — from  all  parts  of  the  world — letters 
would  pour  in  from  readers.  Many  of  these  let- 
ters would  bring  heart-revelations  that  inspired 
fresh  sermons  and  articles  and  books. 

The  sermons  that  adapt  themselves  to  publica- 
tion as  newspaper  articles  and  then  for  insertion 
in  books  for  popular  reading  are  scarce.  But  Dr. 
Miller  could  write  them — in  fact,  he  seemed  un- 
able to  write  any  other  kind.  Long  discipline  in 
writing  simply,  and  long  and  varied  experience  in 
loving  men,  women  and  children  fitted  him  to 
be  author  of  more  ^*  best  sellers  "  among  reli- 
gious books  than  anyone  else. 

Simple  writing  was  a  hobby  with  him.  To  an 
associate  in  the  editorial  office  he  once  said,  **  I 
would  like  to  see  you  make  these  articles  so  simple 
that  an  eight-year-old  child  cannot  but  understand 
them.''  His  work  showed  how  completely  he  had 
kept  this  ideal  before  his  own  mind.    One  whose 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  149 

business  it  was  to  estimate  the  space  required  for 
manuscripts  by  various  authors,  soon  learned  that 
a  thousand  words  by  Dr.  Miller  would  need  one- 
fifth  less  space  than  one  thousand  words  by  almost 
any  other  writer — all  because  he  was  so  fond  of 
words  of  one  syllable!  Simple  language  was  il- 
luminated by  apt  and  copious  illustration.  Many 
of  his  illustrations  were  given  in  a  single  sentence.- 
Most  of  these  were  illustrations  that  no  other 
writer  would  ever  have  used — because  they  were 
drawn  from  homely  life,  and  because  they  were 
so  simple  that  no  one  else  thought  of  the  applica- 
tion that  was  so  plain  to  Dr.  Miller.  Yet  no  sooner 
did  he  use  them  than  they  were  copied  by  nu- 
merous other  authors  and  used  in  sermons  every- 
where. 

A  reader  of  Dr.  Miller's  books  discovers  that 
in  every  chapter,  sooner  or  later,  he  says  some- 
thing comforting.  This  characteristic  was  notice- 
able during  the  days  of  the  Civil  War,  when  the 
papers  printed  his  first  messages.  Letters  from 
the  front  were  apt  to  contain  a  message  of  cheer. 
When  he  could  get  time  he  would  write  a  full 
article  on  the  one  theme  that  took  possession  of 
him  as  he  went  to  hospital  cots  or  to  soldiers 
dying  on  the  battle  field,  or  as  he  came  in  touch 
with  grieving  parents.  In  1863  he  wrote  to  The 
United  Presbyterian  '^  A  Study  on  Sorrow,''  in 
which  he  said : 

*  *  I  had  spent  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday  with 
two  or  three  sore  sufferers.    In  conversation  with 


150     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

them  I  had  spoken  freely  of  their  trials  and  their 
comforts.  .  .  .  Comfort  is  one  of  life's  best 
blessings.  Even  the  comfort  of  earthly  friends  is 
soothing  and  sweet.  But  the  real  comfort  which 
the  Holy  Spirit  brings  to  the  heart  of  the  Christian 
mourner  is  infinitely  better.  .  .  .  It  is  better  to 
go  into  the  furnace  and  get  the  image  of  Christ 
out  of  the  fire,  than  to  be  saved  from  the  fire  and 
fail  of  the  blessed  likeness.^* 

Another  war-time  article,  entitled  *  *  A  Word  of 
Comfort/'  contained  this  illustration: 

*'  When  a  hard  frost  comes  after  a  rain  it 
catches  the  silvery  drops  that  fasten  upon  the 
trees,  and  freezes  them  solid,  and  holds  them 
there  in  beautiful  crystals  which  no  wind  can 
shake  off.  So  death  catches  all  the  beauty  and 
sweetness  of  those  we  love  and  fixes  it  in  solid 
crystals  which  will  hang  upon  the  tree  of  memory 
forever/' 

The  titles  of  some  of  the  books  published  a 
generation  or  more  after  the  close  of  the  war  show 
plainly  that  the  passing  years  only  intensified  the 
feeling  of  the  young  Field  Agent  that  the  world 
needs  comforting  words.  As  one  reads  the  list 
of  Dr.  Miller's  works  he  is  at  once  attracted  by 
such  refreshing  titles  as  '^  Silent  Times,"  **  Come 
Ye  Apart,"  "  Bits  of  Pasture,"  "  The  Hidden 
Life,"  ''  The  Blessing  of  Cheerfulness,"  ''  By  the 
Still  Waters,"  ''  Strength  and  Beauty,"  ''  The 
Ministry  of  Comfort,"  *'  Upper  Currents,"  **  In 
Perfect    Peace."      No    one    was    surprised    to 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  151 

learn  that  the  last  book  of  the  Silent  Times  series, 
and  the  last  book  prepared  by  Dr.  Miller  for  pub- 
lication, was  entitled  simply  '^  The  Book  of  Com- 
fort."* 

To  one  who  spoke  of  the  constant  recurrence  of 
the  comforting,  soothing  note  in  his  sermons,  Dr. 
Miller  once  said,  ^*  I  have  long  made  it  a  rule 
never  to  preach  one  sermon  on  any  subject  without 
putting  in  it,  somewhere,  a  message  of  comfort  for 
the  sorrowing  and  the  overborne.''  And  to  one 
who  commended  his  books  he  wrote  words  that 
told  the  secret  of  his  life : 

* '  You  speak  specially  of  the  uplifting  influence, 
the  cheering  and  encouraging  tone  of  my  work.  I 
feel  that  it  is  one  of  the  highest  missions  of  the 
Christian  teacher  to  be  an  inspirer  of  others. 
Enough  people  write  the  sad  words,  the  depress- 
ing words,  which  make  life  heavier  and  harder 
for  those  who  are  meeting  its  responsibilities  and 
enduring  its  struggles.  Those  who  sing  always  in 
a  minor  key,  and  breathe  out  sad  and  dispiriting 
words,  do  not  know  how  much  harm  they  are 
doing  in  the  world,  what  hurt  they  are  giving  to 
other  lives.  It  seems  to  me  that  those  who  know 
Christ  should  sing  the  note  of  gladness  and  joy. 
Life  is  sad  enough  even  at  its  best.  As  we  go 
forth  each  morning  we  meet  on  every  hand  those 
whose  hearts  are  burdened,  who  are  carrying 
heavy  loads,  who  find  the  battle  too  sore  for 
them.  If  we  speak  discouraging  words  or  if  we 
even  refrain  from  speaking  glad  and  joyous 
words,  we  are  making  life  a  little  harder  for  those 

*  Published  in  England  under  the  title,  *•  Life's  Open  Doors." 


152     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

people.  But  if  we  have  in  our  hearts  the  cheei* 
of  Christ,  the  encouragement  of  Christ,  we  shall 
be  all  the  better  helpers  of  others.  I  have  been 
greatly  impressed  by  a  word  in  the  prophecy  of 
Isaiah,  referring  to  the  Messiah,  in  which  the 
prophet  says,  ^  He  shall  not  fail  nor  be  discour- 
aged.' As  you  study  the  life  of  Christ  you  find 
that  He  never  was  discouraged.  All  His  days  He 
met  life's  trials  and  persecutions  and  sorrows  with 
a  shining  face  and  a  courageous  heart.  I  never  be- 
lieved that  old  tradition  which  said  that  He  never 
smiled — I  believe  that  on  His  face  there  was  al- 
ways that  sweet  smile  which  told  of  peace  within. 
It  is  our  duty,  therefore,  as  far  as  we  possibly  can, 
to  be  encouragers  of  others,  never  discouragers." 

Everywhere  the  critics  received  Dr.  Miller's  vol- 
umes kindly.  A  writer  in  the  Edinburgh  Exposi- 
tory Times  said  of  *^  A  Help  for  the  Common 
Days  ": 

**  It  is  a  work  that  for  a  moment  may  be  con- 
founded with  's  [naming  a  famous  devo- 
tional writer] .    It  is  really  quite  distinct.    ^ 

at  his  best  mounts  up  with  wings  as  eagles.  Dr. 
Miller  is  always  at  his  best,  and  always  is  content 
to  walk.  And  this  is  no  disparagement  of  Dr. 
Miller.  If  we  may  believe  Principal  Reynolds, 
this  steady  upward  plodding  in  a  narrow  path  is 
better  than  raptures  of  reconciliation.  Therefore 
for  strength  in  daily  duty,  the  duty  of  patient, 
silent  waiting  for  the  slow  ^  grinding  of  the  mills 
of  God,'  we  shall  seek  Dr.  Miller." 

A  well-known  American  critic  said  of  '*  The 
Building  of  Character  ' ' : 


AUTHOE  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  153 

**  It  has  the  charming  simplicity  of  all  your 
work.  You  have  the  rare  art  of  saying  things 
clearly,  effectively,  tenderly,  applicatorily,  and 
yet  without  the  air  of  a  pedagogue  and  without 
the  tone  of  preachment/' 

But  the  best  critics  are  those  who  buy  and  read 
books.  These  were  not  slow  to  express  themselves 
about  Dr.  Miller's  work.  Nearly  every  morning's 
mail  brought  one  or  more  notes  of  appreciation 
from  some  one  who  had  been  helped  by  a  volume 
of  comfort,  or  inspired  to  nobler  living  by  a  mes- 
sage prepared  by  one  who  was  learning  the  lesson 
of  life  in  the  school  of  his  Friend  Jesus  Christ. 
Sometimes  praise  was  laughingly  given,  as  when 
a  father  wrote  that  his  daughters  had  a  good- 
natured  dispute  every  evening  as  to  who  should 
have  the  great  privilege  of  reading  a  chapter  in 
the  latest  volume,  or  when  one  told  that  a  boy, 
asked  if  he  was  fond  of  a  certain  popular  book  of 
adventure,  said,  *^  Yes,  it  means  as  much  to  me 
as  the  last  of  Dr.  Miller's  books  means  to  mother." 

Perhaps  one  of  the  best  criticisms  of  Dr.  Mil- 
ler's books  ever  made  came  from  a  humble  reader 
in  England : 

*^  It  does  seem  to  me  the  most  wonderful  thing 
in  the  world,  when  I  consider  your  high  standing 
and  the  many  calls  upon  your  time,  that  you 
should  be  so  kind  to  me  and  give  me  so  much  of 
your  help  and  thought.  Do  you  know  I  think  God 
must  have  meant  you  to  be  my  teacher,  because 
I  can  understand  you  so  quickly  and  because  it 


154     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

is  such  an  intense  joy  to  learn  from  you.  I  have 
been  reading  Emerson's  Essays  lately  and  like 
them  very  much,  but  not  at  all  in  the  same  way 
I  like  your  books;  for  when  I  read  Emerson  I 
am  at  school ;  when  I  read  your  books  I  am  resting 
at  home.'' 

In  the  same  mail  would  come  letters  from  read- 
ers at  home  and  from  readers  beyond  the  sea. 
One  day  a  message  from  the  homeland  said : 

*^  I  have  for  twenty  years  been  an  invalid,  and 
have  had  so  many  solitary  hours,  so  many  silent 
times,  when  the  companionship  of  your  books  was 
comforting,  inspiring  and  uplifting,  that  I  love 
them. ' ' 

Another  letter  told  of  an  evening  gathering  of 
men  and  women  in  a  home  for  the  aged  to  listen  to 
the  reading  aloud  of  selected  books.  One  of  the 
listeners  said: 

**  Nothing  which  has  passed  through  our  hands 
has  been  so  acceptable  as  *  Finding  the  Way.'  " 

From  Melbourne,  Australia,  came  a  letter  from 
a  Christian  Endeavourer  who  told  of  the  purpose 
of  his  society  to  spend  ^*  An  Evening  with  Dr. 
Miller." 

The  English  Consul  at  Kieif,  Russia,  told  of  a 
service  held  in  the  schoolhouse  every  Sunday 
afternoon  for  several  years,  at  which  a  chapter 
from  one  of  Dr.  Miller's  books  was  read.  No  ser- 
mon was   allowed  by   the   authorities,   but  the 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  155 

printed  words  of  the  American  pastor  met  their 
needs. 

From  a  stranger  in  London,  England,  came 
these  encouraging  tidings ; 

**  A  friend,  an  architect  in  Bombay,  Lidia,  in- 
forms me  that  at  Christmas  he  purchased  three 
hundred  copies  of  your  ^  Come  Ye  Apart  '  and 
distributed  them  among  his  friends  and  native 
clients.  One  of  them  went  to  a  Mohammedan 
prince,  for  whom  he  had  recently  constructed  a 
palace  and  in  whose  house  he  had  great  freedom. 
He  afterwards  said  that  the  volume  was  being 
read  with  much  interest  both  by  the  prince  and 
his  wife.  Another  copy  was  sent  to  a  Moham- 
medan merchant,  and  on  calling  at  his  office  the 
giver  found  the  book  lying  on  the  table,  it  having 
been  brought  from  the  residence.  I  thought  you 
would  like  to  know  of  these  silent  influences  at 
work. ' ' 

Famous  people  asked  to  have  their  part  in  the 
chorus  of  appreciation.  From  Hawarden  Castle 
came  an  autograph  letter: 

*^  Pray  accept  my  thanks  for  your  work  on 
*  The  Building  of  Character.'  It  seems  to  me 
a  work  of  great  value  on  a  subject  requiring  a 
skilful  hand. 

*  *  Your  very  faithful  servant, 

^^W.  E.Gladstone." 

The  Earl  of  Meath  wrote  from  England : 

'*  I  have  for  some  considerable  time  wished  to 
write  to  you  and  express  the  pleasure  which  I 


156     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

feel  in  reading  your  books.  I  think  I  may  truly 
say  that  tliey  are  the  only  sermons  which  have 
ever  attracted  me.  Yours  possess  a  life  and  prac- 
tical character  which  appeal  to  me,  and  I  seldom 
read  them  without  feeling  that  I  rise  strengthened 
for  life's  contests.  They  appear  to  me  so  differ- 
ent from  the  ordinary  dry-as-dust  sermons,  which 
treat  of  abstruse  questions  of  theology  or  con- 
tested points  of  the  Bible  narrative,  which  are  of 
little  practical  use  to  the  man  of  the  world  who 
is  in  need  of  guidance  as  to  the  way  in  which  he 
should  pick  his  steps  amidst  the  dangers  and  pit- 
falls to  be  daily  met  with  in  the  workaday  world. 
Permit,  therefore,  an  unknown  friend  to  tender 
sincere  thanks  for  guidance  and  encouragement. ' ' 

A  Philadelphia  visitor  to  the  palace  of  the  Czar 
in  St.  Petersburg  wrote  that  he  saw  several  of  Dr. 
Miller's  books  on  the  reading  table  of  the  Czarina. 
She  asked  him  to  say  to  the  author  that  she  had 
read  his  books  and  enjoyed  them  very  much. 
Later  she  sent  a  similar  message  through  her 
secretary. 

Gratifying  as  were  these  evidences  that  he  was 
reaching  the  hearts  of  the  great,  the  author  wel- 
comed even  more  the  words  that  came  to  him 
from  those  in  humble  station.  When  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, in  1893,  Dr.  Miller  visited  the  Chinese  Quar- 
ter. Going  into  one  of  the  houses,  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  owner,  who  showed  the  greatest  de- 
light on  meeting  him,  and  exclaimed,  '*  Why,  I 
know  you  well;  I  have  read  your  books!  "  and  go- 
ing to  a  table  near  by  he  held  up  several  of  them. 

Dr.  Miller  was  particularly  attracted  by  this 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  157 

letter,  received  from  a  student  at  the  University 
of  Mississippi : 

**  Last  summer  a  party  of  us  students  were  over 
in  South  Carolina  working  during  vacation  to  help 
get  into  school  again.  In  the  library  of  my  board- 
ing house  a  little  volume  in  green  binding  at- 
tracted my  attention.  It  was  your  *  Week-day  Re- 
ligion.' I  not  only  read  the  book  myself,  but  read 
it  aloud  to  my  friends.  We  ordered  copies  at 
once,  and  more  than  one  of  us,  I  suspect,  had 
copies  sent  to  some  dark-eyed  maiden  in  the  old 
Magnolia  state.  I  have  the  book  on  my  table 
now,  and  in  the  hurry  and  grind  I  take  time  to 
read  it  even  though  I  have  read  it  again  and 
again.  Its  simple  and  sweet  earnestness  goes 
straight  to  my  soul.  You  are  a  busy  man  in  far- 
away Philadelphia,  and  I  a  farmer's  boy  and 
student  among  the  vine-clad  hills  of  Mississippi, 
yet  I  know  that  we  are  drawn  close  together  by 
that  greatest  of  all  ties — the  recognition  of  our 
duty  to  Christ.'' 

A  young  negro  minister  in  the  South  evidently 
spoke  from  his  heart  when  he  said : 

*^  While  at  the  seminary  I  got  a  plenty  of  doc- 
trine, but  little  of  practical  things,  little  of  words 
suited  to  cheer  the  weary  and  heavy-hearted,  but 
in  your  books  I  find  many  things  that  are  good 
for  the  sufferings  of  my  race.  And  I  thank  God 
for  your  life. ' ' 

The  day  before  the  author's  death  a  maid- 
servant in  England  wrote : 

*  *  I  want  to  try  in  writing  to  thank  you  for  the 
great  help  I  have  received  from  reading  books 


158     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

written  by  yon,  namely:  ^  Silent  Times  Series.' 
I  have  had  the  great  privilege  of  being  able  to 
read  and  re-read,  for  years  now,  some  of  these. 
I  find  in  counting  up  that  I  have  read  seventeen 
of  the  most  beautiful  and  helpful  books.  Again 
and  again  I  have  thanked  God  for  placing  them 
within  my  reach.  Again  and  again  I  have  asked 
Him  to  reward  you,  though  at  the  same  time  I 
know  you  have  had  already  your  reward.  I  can- 
not express  in  words  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  the 
help  I  have  received  from  them,  and  the  joy  it 
has  given  me  to  be  able  to  lend  to  others  the  three 
volumes  I  possess  as  my  own.  I  would  like  to 
have  every  one  you  have  written  as  my  very  own. 
I  hope  yet  to  be  able  to  read  those  I  have  not 
read.  I  am  a  domestic  servant  and,  you  will  un- 
derstand, not  well  enough  off  to  purchase  them  all 
for  my  own.  But  my  mistress  is  as  fond  of  them 
as  I  am,  and  it  is  through  her  kindness  that  I 
own  three  of  them.  For  some  time  I  have  felt 
I  would  like  to  thank  you,  and  I  didn't  know  if 
you  were  in  heaven  above  or  in  heaven  below,  for 
I  know  after  being  able  to  write  such  books,  you 
must  have  known  the  blessed  experience  of  heaven 
on  earth.  So  I  inquired  of  the  publishers  and 
they  sent  me  your  address.  Dear  Sir,  please  ac- 
cept again  my  sincere  gratitude  for  those  books. 
I  pray  that  millions  of  them  may  be  bought,  and 
I  know  they  cannot  fail  to  be  a  blessing  to  all  who 
read  them.  I  say  all,  because  I  believe  no  one 
who  is  saved  can  read  them  without  being  blessed. 
Some  day,  when  I  meet  the  blessed  Master,  I  will 
thank  Him  face  to  face,  and  you,  too." 

Many  letters  told  of  lives  that  had  been  changed 
by  God's  blessing  on  these  simple  volumes.  A 
useful  minister  said : 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  159 

**  Dr.  Miller's  fine  spiritual  articles  and  edi- 
torials have  often  inspired  me  to  higher  living  and 
greater  devotion  to  the  cross.  One  of  his  little 
books,  ^  Go  Forward,'  helped  me  to  determine  a 
field  of  labour  in  harmony  with  the  will  of  God. 
Had  I  not  read  it  at  the  time,  I  might  have  gone 
to  the  other  field." 

One  who  became  an  earnest  Christian  after  the 
experience  described  in  his  letter,  wrote : 

*^  When  I  took  the  book  up,  I  was  in  utter  de- 
spair. I  had  been  longing  for  over  a  year  to  be- 
come a  Christian,  but  had  been  unsuccessful,  and 
had  almost  determined  to  give  up  the  struggle. 
When  I  laid  down  the  book  all  my  miserable 
doubts  and  fears  had  vanished,  and  I  was  so  per- 
fectly happy  that  I  doubted  the  reality  of  the 
change.  Not  until  two  or  three  years  had  passed 
did  I  dare  to  believe  in  my  new  peace. ' ' 

An  anxious  mother  cheered  the  author  by 
saying : 

*^  I  have  thrown  *  The  Every  Day  of  Life  '  in 
the  way  of  my  son,  who  is  rather  careless  about 
reading  such  books,  and  I  am  glad  to  tell  you  I 
often  find  him  reading  it.  And  only  this  morning 
at  breakfast,  when  we  were  talking  about  the  book, 
he  remarked,  *  I  tell  you.  Dr.  Miller  is  a  great  man. 
He  knows  how  to  say  things  that  go  to  the  heart. ' 
.  .  .  Last  night  I  received  a  letter  from  a  young 
man,  thanking  me  for  a  copy  of  the  book  which 
I  had  sent  him,  and  expressing  a  desire  to  lead 
a  new  life.'^ 

From  a  deaconess  in  Toronto,  Canada,  came  this 
encouraging  note : 


160     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

'^  Your  books  have  been  my  favourites  for 
years,  and  I  have  been  echoing  their  helpful  mes- 
sages to  all  my  patients  in  the  seven  hospitals  of 
the  city  where  my  work  calls  me  day  by  day;  and 
also  in  our  young  people's  meetings.  I  have  come 
in  from  my  work  with  my  heart  almost  crushed 
with  the  sorrows  and  miseries  of  this  wicked 
world,  but  would  pick  up  one  of  your  books,  and 
it  would  give  me  just  the  message  I  needed  for 
the  hour.  ...  A  good  friend  was  kind  enough 
to  say  to  me  the  other  evening,  *  I  know  now  the 
secret  of  your  unselfish  life ;  it  is  because  you  have 
read  so  many  of  Dr.  Miller's  books.'  I  want  to 
say  to  you  that  they  have  helped  me  to  get  better 
acquainted  with  Christ. ' ' 

It  was  one  of  Dr.  Miller's  chief  joys  that  his 
books  were  acceptable  to  people  of  all  denomina- 
tions and  all  phases  of  belief.  He  prized  highly 
a  letter  written  in  1887  by  Bishop  William  Bacon 
Stevens,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Diocese  of 
Pennsylvania.  After  receiving  ''  Practical  Re- 
ligion, ' '  the  Bishop  wrote : 

''  Pardon  me  for  thus  writing  to  a  stranger; 
and  yet  I  feel  that  where  our  minds  and  hearts 
so  run  together,  and  find  their  common  centre  in 
the  same  precious  Saviour,  we  are  not  strangers, 
but  brethren  in  Christ,  journeying,  though  it  may 
be  by  different  paths,  yet  each  leading  to  the  same 
Gate  of  Pearl,  and  to  the  one  Father's  house,  of 
whom  *  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
named.'  " 

On  returning  from  a  vacation  trip  a  Philadel- 
phian  said : 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  161 

^^  While  stopping  at  a  hotel  on  one  of  the 
islands  in  beautiful  Casco  Bay,  the  proprietress 
inquired  whether  I  was  acquainted  with  Dr.  Miller. 
I  was  surprised  at  her  question,  because  I  knew 
her  to  be  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

*  I  always  have  one  of  Dr.  Miller's  books  with  me 
wherever  I  may  happen  to  be,'  she  explained. 

*  His  words  have  comforted  me  in  my  sorrow  and 
helped  me  more  than  any  others  I  have  ever  read ; 
he  seems  almost  to  know  my  problems,  and  in  his 
books  I  have  found  a  way  out  of  many  difficul- 
ties.' Then  she  added,  '  I  was  advised  to  get  Dr. 
Miller's  books  by  the  priest  in  charge  of  my 
church.'  " 

A  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  was  heard  by  the 
proprietor  of  a  bookstore  talking  to  a  parish 
priest.  He  said:  **  Here  is  a  book  that  I  like.  It 
is  by  J.  R.  Miller.  I  do  not  know  who  he  is,  but 
it  is  a  good  book  and  I  advise  you  to  read  it." 

Dr.  Miller's  friends  were  not  surprised  by  let- 
ters of  praise  and  appreciation  like  these.  But 
Dr.  Miller  was  surprised.  He  never  got  over  the 
feeling  expressed  in  a  letter  to  a  friend : 


(< 


I  thank  you  for  what  you  say  about  the  in- 
fluence of  my  articles  and  books  on  the  other  side 
of  the  sea.  It  is  something  which  I  cannot  myself 
understand — how  the  books  go  and  how  kindly 
people  write  to  me.  This  morning's  mail  brought 
me  two  letters — one  from  Southern  India  and  an- 
other from  England,  both  full  of  grateful  thanks, 
out  of  loving  hearts,  for  the  simple  words  which 
God  has  enabled  me  to  write.  Nothing  humbles 
a  man  so  much  as  the  consciousness  that  God  is 


162     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

using  him.  The  feeling  of  reverence  which  one 
has  in  such  consciousness,  instead  of  exalting, 
brings  one  down  very  close  to  the  feet  of  Christ/' 

In  similar  vein  he  wrote  to  another  corre- 
spondent : 

**  There  is  something  pleasant  about  the  way 
my  books  have  gone.  I  confess  myself  mystified 
when  I  think  of  it.  The  sales  on  the  other  side, 
through  my  British  publishers,  are  quite  as  great 
as  on  this  side.  God  has  chosen  to  use  these  little 
books  with  their  simple  messages  in  a  way  which 
no  thought  of  mine  can  understand  or  account  for. 
The  only  solution  I  can  find  is  that  God  graciously 
accepts  the  little  things  laid  on  His  altar  and  uses 
them  as  He  wills,  to  carry  comfort,  cheer,  inspira- 
tion and  help  to  His  children.'' 

In  1893,  after  a  Sunday  in  Oakland,  California, 
where  the  people  had  thronged  about  him,  he 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Miller: 

*^  I  am  getting  little  glimpses  of  the  place  I 
hold  in  the  people's  hearts  over  the  country 
through  books,  articles,  lessons,  etc.  People  say 
in  their  introductory  speeches  that  my  *  name  is 
a  household  word.'  One  stranger  said  that  no 
man  in  this  country  has  the  place  I  have  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Christian  people.  I  feel  silly  to 
write  this,  as  it  seems  like  self-conceit.  But  you 
say  I  ought  to  tell  you  everything.  It  does  not 
make  me  self-conceited  at  all,  but  just  the  re- 
verse. It  gives  me  a  sense  of  responsibility  which 
will  make  me  far  more  careful  of  my  life  here- 
after." 


AUTHOR  OF  DEVOTIONAL  BOOKS  163 

Strong  in  that  resolution,  the  gifted  author  re- 
turned to  his  desk  to  prepare  fresh  messages  of 
comfort  and  stimulus  for  the  friends  of  his  Friend 
and  those  he  would  introduce  to  that  Friend. 


MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS 


If  you  know  a  life  that  is  dreary,  that  seems  utterly  deso- 
late and  alone,  do  what  you  can  to  get  a  bit  of  bloom  planted 
in  it. — From  '^  Upper  Currents.'' 

Jesus  never  gave  money  to  anyone  in  need,  so  far  as  we 
are  told.  He  did  not  pay  rents  for  the  poor,  nor  buy  them 
food  or  clothes,  but  he  was  always  doing  good  in  ways  that 
meant  far  more  to  them  than  if  he  had  helped  with  money. 
There  are  needs  that  only  love  and  kindness  can  meet.  Count- 
less people  move  about  among  us  these  days  starving  for  love, 
dying  for  loneliness.  You  can  help  them  immeasurably  by 
becoming  their  friend,  not  in  any  marked  or  unusual  way,  but 
by  doing  them  a  simple  kindness,  by  showing  a  little  human 
interest  in  them,  by  turning  aside  to  do  a  little  favour,  by 
manifesting  sympathy,  if  they  are  in  sorrow.  A  little  note  of 
a  few  lines  sent  to  a  neighbour  in  grief  has  been  known  to 
start  an  influence  of  comfort  and  strength  that  could  not  be 
measured. 

It  is  the  little  things  of  love  that  count  in  such  ministry — 
the  little  nameless  acts,  the  small  words  of  gentleness,  the  looks 
that  tell  of  interest  and  care  and  sympathy.  Life  is  hard 
for  many  people  and  nothing  is  more  needed  continually  than 
encouragement  and  cheer.  There  are  men  who  never  do  any- 
thing great  in  their  lives,  and  yet  they  make  it  sunnier  all 
about  them  and  make  all  who  know  them  happier,  braver, 
stronger.  There  are  women,  overburdened  themselves,  perhaps, 
but  so  thoughtful,  so  sympathetic,  so  obliging,  so  full  of  little 
kindnesses,  that  they  make  the  spot  of  the  world  in  which 
they  live  more  like  heaven. — From  ''  Comfort  Through  Per- 
sonal Helpfulness/'  in  ^'  The  Book  of  Comfort." 


CHAPTER  X 

MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS 

Dr.  Miller  built  up  his  large  congregations  as 
much  by  letter-writing  as  by  the  making  of  per- 
sonal calls.  And  the  letters  which  played  such 
an  important  part  in  the  development  of  his  work 
were  not  about  the  church  at  all — they  were 
merely  the  friendly,  thoughtful,  considerate  letters 
of  one  who  was  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his 
correspondents  and  who  did  not  allow  himself  to 
be  too  busy  to  let  them  know  about  his  interest. 

For  years  it  was  his  habit  on  Sunday  evenings, 
after  the  day's  work  was  done,  to  make  note  of 
all  the  people  of  whom  he  had  heard  during  the 
day  to  whom  letters  might  do  good.  Of  course 
the  names  of  the  sick  went  down  on  that  list,  as 
well  as  those  who  had  recovered  from  sickness, 
those  who  had  returned  from  a  journey,  and  those 
who  were  about  to  leave  home;  those  who  were 
going  to  college,  or  parents  who  had  heard  good 
news  from  a  son  or  a  daughter  at  college — in  fact, 
everyone  into  whose  life  had  come  some  event 
of  special  importance.  Just  as  soon  as  possible, 
a  letter  was  sent  to  each  one  of  them,  with  an 
appropriate  word  of  sympathy,  congratulation, 
cheer,  or  good  wishes. 

167 


168     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

Then  he  kept  a  complete  record  of  all  the  im- 
portant dates  in  the  lives  of  his  people — ^birth- 
days, wedding  anniversaries,  et  cetera — and  he 
marked  each  of  these  by  sending  a  short  letter  of 
remembrance. 

As  if  this  was  not  enough,  when  he  heard  from 
acquaintances  during  the  week  of  sickness  or  death 
in  a  family  with  which  he  was  acquainted — ^whether 
in  his  own  town  or  in  distant  parts  of  America, 
or  even  in  foreign  countries — ^he  seized  the  chance 
to  write  a  letter.  In  fact,  it  was  the  rule  of  his 
life  to  send  each  day  at  least  one  letter  of  cheer 
to  some  one  who  was  in  special  need.  Seldom, 
however,  did  he  stop  with  one  such  letter;  the 
day^s  mail  from  his  office  was  frequently  loaded 
with  a  dozen  or  more  messages  of  cheer.  The 
chance  word  with  the  street-car  conductor,  or  the 
passenger  who  sat  by  his  side,  or  the  elevator  boy, 
or  the  teller  at  the  bank  would  give  him  the  hint 
that  prompted  a  message.  Perhaps  the  morning 
paper  would  tell  him  of  some  one  who  had  been 
called  to  a  position  of  honour,  possibly  a  caller 
would  casually  mention  the  fact  that  a  friend  had 
just  been  married.  A  business  associate  might  tell 
him  of  one  who  had  recently  come  to  the  city  to 
enter  upon  a  new  position.  Notes  would  be  made 
of  each  of  these  opportunities  for  a  helpful  letter 
— and  before  the  day  was  done  the  message  was 
on  its  way. 

Once  when  he  was  present  as  a  speaker  at  an 
evening  gathering  he  learned  that  two  expected 


MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS    169 

guests  had  been  unable  to  come  because  of  illness. 
Quickly  Ids  memorandum  book  was  in  his  hand,  the 
fact  was  noted,  and  at  the  first  opportunity  he 
wrote  letters  of  sympathy  to  both  of  the  men.  It 
made  no  difference  to  him  that  one  was  obscure, 
while  the  other  was  a  man  of  note:  the  obscure 
man  received  a  letter  just  as  hearty  as  that  penned 
for  the  well-known  man. 

During  the  Torrey- Alexander  meetings  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1906,  a  service  was  held  in  the  Acad- 
emy of  Music,  conducted  by  Charles  M.  Alex- 
ander. Different  persons  were  testifying  to  their 
faith  in  Christ  and  relating  experiences  which 
had  led  them  to  accept  Him.  One  of  these  persons 
spoke  of  the  influence  of  a  letter  received  from 
Dr.  Miller  in  a  time  of  deep  trouble  and  distress. 
**  Yes,''  said  Mr.  Alexander,  ''•  what  a  wonderful 
help  Dr.  Miller's  letters  have  been  to  many  a 
weary  and  troubled  soul!  I  wonder  how  many 
persons  in  this  gathering  have  received  letters 
from  Dr.  Miller?  "  One  might  have  expected  to 
see  a  scattering  show  of  hands  here  and  there 
throughout  the  large  congregation,  but  hundreds 
of  hands  were  raised  in  silent  but  eloquent  tribute 
to  a  man  who,  although  extremely  busy,  found 
time  to  share  the  burdens  of  others. 

Once  a  visitor  told  Dr.  Miller  what  one  of  these 
kindly  letters  had  meant  to  him.  Dr.  Miller  told 
the  story  himself  in  an  article  urging  others  to 
write  such  letters.  It  never  occurred  to  him  that 
friends  would  know  at  once  that  he  wrote  the 


170     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

letter  of  which  the  young  man  spoke.    This  is  the 
story,  with  Dr.  Miller's  own  comment: 

'*  Only  yesterday  a  young  man  took  from  his 
pocket  a  letter  which  he  had  carried  for  five  years 
and  which  he  has  read  no  doubt  hundreds  of 
times.  It  was  written  when  he  was  in  great  per- 
plexity of  mind  and  was  on  the  point  of  turning 
into  the  darkness  of  doubt  and  despair.  He 
reached  out  his  hands  for  help,  writing  to  one 
he  knew  he  could  trust,  and  laying  bare  to  him 
his  heart's  whole  burden.  He  received  a  prompt 
answer  which,  if  it  did  nothing  else,  at  least 
brought  to  him  the  consciousness  of  human  sym- 
pathy and  interest.  He  was  not  alone.  One  cared 
for  him.  For  the  time,  in  the  darkness,  he  could 
not  see  Christ,  but  he  could  see  this  human  friend 
who  stood  close  by  him  in  love.  This  saved  him. 
This  friendship  was  a  little  lamp  which  kept  on 
shining  when  every  other  light  seemed  to  have 
gone  out. 

*  *  The  letter  which  came  to  him  in  answer  to  his 
heart's  unburdening  proved  the  very  word  of 
Christ  to  him.  For  months  it  was  all  the  gospel 
he  could  read.  Its  few,  strong,  simple,  confident 
sentences  were  like  anchor-chains  to  his  soul  amid 
the  waves.  At  last  all  the  darkness  fled  away,  the 
storms  were  quieted,  Christ  himself  was  revealed 
once  more  in  blessed,  glorious  light,  and  holy 
peace  filled  his  soul. 

'  ^  But  it  was  the  letter  that  saved  him.  It  was 
the  hand  of  Christ  to  him.  Is  it  any  wonder  that 
he  cherished  it  as  the  most  sacred  of  all  his  treas- 
ures 1  It  has  been  kept  so  long  and  read  so  often 
that  the  paper  is  worn  out.  But  no  money  would 
buy  it  from  the  young  man." 


MINISTEEING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS    171 

In  homes  all  over  the  world  letters  from  Dr. 
Miller  are  cherished  possessions.  A  visitor  in 
a  New  Jersey  home  was  shown  a  series  of  seven 
letters  received  from  him  on  seven  successive  wed- 
ding anniversaries.  Most  people  would  have 
thought  the  recipients  had  no  claim  on  him,  but 
he  thought  differently;  everyone  had  a  claim  to 
whom  he  might  be  of  use. 

^^  I  can't  understand  how  he  could  keep  in  touch 
with  folks  as  he  did/'  a  business  man  said  a  few 
days  after  the  death  of  the  letter-writer.  ^ '  I  have 
carefully  laid  away  a  package  of  messages  from 
him.  Somehow  he  kept  track  of  me  from  the 
time  I  took  my  first  position.  Every  time  my 
salary  was  increased  he  wrote  to  me.  There  was 
a  letter  when  I  was  married,  and  more  letters  on 
wedding  anniversaries.  When  a  child  was  born, 
when  there  was  sickness  in  the  home,  when  there 
were  financial  reverses,  when  we  were  rejoicing 
or  sorrowing  for  almost  any  special  reason,  he 
wrote  to  us.  And  to  think  that  he  did  no  more 
for  us  than  for  thousands  of  others,  some  of 
whom  he  had  never  seen." 

A  few  samples  of  these  letters  serve  not  only 
to  illustrate  the  story  of  the  writer's  helpful  min- 
istry of  the  pen,  but  they  reveal  many  of  the 
secrets  of  his  marvellous  life.  One  day  a  letter 
came  to  his  desk  from  a  Sunday-school  girl  who 
asked  for  counsel  as  to  her  life  work.  After  urg- 
ing patience  before  beginning  the  larger  work  she 
planned,  he  wrote ; 


172     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

^'  1  am  glad  to  know  that  you  have  given  your- 
self to  Christ  fully  and  wholly,  that  you  desire 
not  only  to  live  for  Him,  but  to  live  to  be  a  blessing 
to  others  in  His  name.  .  .  .  Your  best  course 
is  to  put  yourself  in  the  hands  of  Christ,  as  I  am 
sure  you  want  to  do,  not  only  regarding  the  con- 
secration of  the  work,  but  regarding  the  details 
of  the  work.  Do  not  be  in  haste.  Do  not  feel  that 
you  must  enter  at  once  upon  this  larger  work. 
The  first  thing  for  a  worker  is  careful  and  sub- 
stantial preparation.  Meanwhile  you  will  not  be 
idle,  but  you  will  be  doing  Christ's  work  and 
taking  a  part  in  Christian  work  from  the  very 
beginning.  You  will  practise,  for  example,  in 
Sunday-school  work  and  in  every  line  of  work  in 
which  girls  can  engage  with  helpfulness  to  others. 
Let  Christ  choose  the  way  and  choose  the  line  of 
work  for  you.  I  have  had  experience  with  a  good 
many  young  people  who  have  felt  just  as  you 
feel  now,  having  the  beautiful  spirit  of  consecra- 
tion and  great  earnestness,  and  I  assure  you  that 
the  course  I  recommend  will  be  the  wise  one  for 
you — not  to  be  in  a  hurry,  but  to  do  the  work  of 
this  day  faithfully  as  a  preparation  for  the  work 
of  the  morrow. ' ' 

A  student  for  the  ministry,  about  to  be  gradu- 
ated from  college,  received  this  stimulating  coun- 
sel: 

^*  May  God's  blessing  richly  abide  upon  you  in 
the  future  plans  for  the  completion  of  your  course. 
The  seminary  curriculum  will  be  different  alto- 
gether from  that  of  the  college.  You  are  in  a 
measure  free  from  the  trammels  and  drudgeries 
which  have  been  thus  far  an  essential  part  of 
your  course.    The  work  before  you  now  is  two- 


MINISTERINO  THROUGH  THE  MAILS    173 

fold — first,  to  get  the  keys  of  the  treasure  house 
of  knowledge,  which  will  make  available  to  you 
the  rich  stores  which  are  laid  up  for  your  use; 
and,  second,  to  learn  to  preach.  A  man  must 
have  something  to  say,  otherwise  rhetoric  and  elo- 
cution and  all  other  such  qualifications  for  expres- 
sion will  be  of  little  avail.  The  day  has  gone  by 
when  sounding  brass  and  tinkling  cymbal  will 
make  a  man  a  permanent  reputation  in  the  pulpit, 
or  enable  him  to  be  of  much  use  in  the  world. 
There  was  a  time  when  high-sounding  rhetoric 
and  graceful  oratory  took  the  place  largely  with 
many  people  of  real  thought.  But  now  a  man 
must  know  something,  must  have  something  to 
say  to  people,  must  be  a  thinker,  otherwise  he  will 
find  his  rhetoric  and  elocution  of  but  very  small 
importance.  It  is  impossible  for  you  in  the  three 
years  before  you  to  learn  everything  that  you  will 
need  to  use  in  your  ministry.  But  you  can  get  the 
keys  to  the  storehouse.  That  is,  you  can  learn 
where  things  are  to  be  found,  and  you  can  learn 
how  to  think.  Reading  alone  does  not  prepare 
a  man  for  being  a  great  teacher.  He  must  not  only 
read,  but  also  digest  and  assimilate. 

**  The  other  part  of  your  course  will  be  to  learn 
to  express  what  you  do  know  in  such  a.  way  that 
it  will  leave  its  mark  in  the  hearts  and  lives  of 
those  who  hear  you.  Nothing  will  be  of  more 
use  to  you  than  incessant  writing.  No  matter 
how  stiffly  and  laboriously  a  man  may  write  at 
first,  if  only  he  persists  in  practice,  writing  every 
day,  rewriting  and  striving  to  improve  in  his 
style,  he  will  by  and  by  be  able  to  express  his 
thoughts  fluently  and  in  such  a  way  that  others 
will  be  interested  in  the  expression.  Elocution 
is  important,  but  I  insist  still  that  the  men  who 
move  the  world  and  make  the  deepest  impres- 


174     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

sion  upon  lives  are  those  wlio  have  learned  to 
write  in  simple  Saxon  words  of  beauty  and 
strength,  the  great  thoughts  that  burn  in  their 
hearts." 

A  Christian  in  another  city  on  the  morning  of 
his  birthday  read  this  greeting : 

*^  I  have  just  seen  a  notice  in  the  New  York 
Evangelist  that  to-morrow  will  be  your  birthday. 
I  am  constrained  to  write  a  word  of  sincere  con- 
gratulation. There  are  many  things  upon  which 
you  are  to  be  congratulated.  One  is,  that  through 
the  grace  of  Christ  in  you,  your  life  has  been  such 
a  blessing  to  the  world,  so  full  of  usefulness,  such 
an  educating,  uplifting  influence.  You  will  never 
know  the  full  value  of  what  you  have  done  until 
in  eternity  you  see  all  the  results  and  inspirations 
when  the  harvest  is  gathered.  .    .    . 

*^  Another  cause  for  congratulation  is  that  you 
have  an  immortality  before  you,  bright  with  pos- 
sibilities of  growth,  in  which  you  are  going  to 
continue  to  work  for  Christ.  This  is  the  best  of 
all.  The  ^  endless  life  ^  beyond  the  shadows  of 
mortality  is  a  great  deal  more  real  than  the  broken 
years  we  live  in  this  world.  There  the  oldest  are 
the  youngest  and  all  life  is  toward  youth. 

^  ^  May  God  continue  you  for  many  years  of  use- 
fulness here,  and  then  introduce  you  to  an  eternity 
of  glorious  life." 

A  letter  from  a  stranger  attracted  Dr.  Miller's 
special  attention  because  it  gave  him  the  hint  for 
which  he  was  always  looking — the  hint  that  a  letter 
from  him  would  be  helpful.    So  he  wrote : 

'*  Your  stationery  shows  that  you  are  in  sor- 
row.   I  may  not  intermeddle  with  your  grief,  but 


MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS     175 

I  may  say  at  least  that  my  heart  goes  out  in  sin- 
cere sympathy  to  you,  whatever  the  grief  may  be 
which  has  touched  your  life.  No  doubt  you  have 
learned  that  sorrow  is  a  great  revealer.  We  never 
should  see  the  stars  in  the  sky,  if  the  sun  kept 
shining  always;  and  the  Bible  is  like  a  sky  full 
of  stars — stars  of  comfort,  of  divine  revealing,  of 
spiritual  help,  of  which  we  never  should  know  ex- 
perimentally did  not  the  sun  go  down  for  us  and 
the  darkness  come  on.  Very  much  of  the  Bible 
remains  like  a  sealed  book  to  God's  children  until 
they  are  called  to  pass  into  the  shadows  of  grief. 
That  is  what  our  Master  meant  in  the  Beatitude 
for  sorrow,  ^  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for 
they  shall  be  comforted.'  Comfort  is  one  of  God's 
highest  and  best  blessings.  But  we  never  can  have 
comfort  till  we  mourn." 

A  young  woman  who  was  just  entering  on  her 
service  as  governess  in  a  private  family  was 
strengthened  thus : 

^'  My  child,  do  not  be  afraid  of  your  new  duties 
and  responsibilities.  Keep  near  the  heart  of 
Christ  yourself,  for  there  you  will  receive 
strength,  and  your  life  will  be  enriched  and  your 
touch  made  more  gentle  and  your  heart  made  more 
tender.  Your  duties  are  new  to  you  and  may  not 
be  very  easy,  but  I  hope  you  will  soon  get  accus- 
tomed to  them.  It  is  a  great  thing  to  be  able  to 
put  an  inspiration  of  good  or  beauty  into  the 
heart  of  a  child.  You  never  can  know  what  the 
final  outcome  will  be.  May  God  bless  you  al- 
ways." 

Learning  that  an  acquaintance  was  about  to  lose 
a  position  through  the  suspension  of  a  business 


176     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLEE 

house,  he  entrusted  to  the  mails  these  heartening 
sentences : 

'*  May  God  bless  you.  You  must  not  be  afraid. 
You  have  come  to  one  of  those  points  in  life  where 
you  must  call  up  the  resources  of  your  Christian 
faith.  You  will  find  in  due  time  that  the  things 
you  have  been  saying  to  other  people  are  true. 
God  will  not  forget  you.  He  has  some  plan  for 
your  life  and  some  place  for  you  to  work,  and  He 
would  not  be  your  Father  if  He  did  not  mean  to 
guide  you  to  the  place  and  to  the  work  in  due 
time.'' 

On  one  of  the  anniversaries  of  a  great  sorrow 
which  had  come  into  the  life  of  a  friend,  he  took 
this  way  to  ease  the  wound  which  would  be  opened 
anew  by  the  day : 

*^  I  sympathise  with  you  in  the  feeling  of  lone- 
liness of  which  you  speak.  Anniversary  days  and 
vacation  times  are  the  hardest  periods  through 
which  to  pass  in  time  of  loneliness.  They  bring 
back  the  memories  of  other  resting  days  and  me- 
morial days  when  you  were  not  alone.  But  these 
very  experiences  which  try  you  so  much  are  bring- 
ing you  two  blessings.  First  they  are  showing 
to  you  the  value  of  strong  human  friendships, 
whose  worth  to  you  you  would  probably  never 
have  realised  but  for  these  experiences.  Then  at 
the  same  time  they  are  making  known  to  you  the 
reality  of  God's  help  and  mercy.  I  often  say  we 
get  a  new  Bible  in  our  time  of  trouble,  just  as  a 
person  gets  a  new  sky  when  the  sun  goes  down. 
During  the  day  the  sky  is  only  blue — ^beautiful^ 
rich,  deep  in  its  majesty  and  serenity,  but  not 


MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS     177 

revealing  all  of  its  splendours  until  night  comes. 
Then  in  the  darkness  the  glory  of  the  stars  flashes 
out.  So  it  is  with  the  Bible.  You  know  it,  you 
read  it,  you  love  it,  you  feast  your  heart  upon 
its  promises,  even  in  the  days  of  joy  and  human 
friendship.  But  you  have  not  yet  seen  its  best. 
Shades  of  night  come  on,  and  in  the  darkness  the 
promises  flash  out  with  all  their  tender  meaning 
and  all  their  strength  and  helpfulness." 

A  young  soldier  enlisted  for  the  Spanish  War 
was  in  the  midst  of  peculiar  temptations.  He  was 
held  back  from  vicious  courses  as  he  read  these 
words : 

*^  I  am  sure  you  want  to  be  a  true  man  as  well 
as  a  true  Christian.  I  hope  that  nothing  will  lead 
you  away  from  loyalty  to  Christ.  I  am  sure  you 
mean  to  be  true,  but  I  know  well  the  temptations 
of  a  soldier's  life,  for  I  spent  three  years  in  the 
army  during  our  Civil  War.  I  know  many  men 
who  were  not  able  to  withstand  the  temptations. 
But  I  know  thousands  of  others  who  were  made 
better  men  by  the  temptations  because  they  met 
them  bravely  and  were  faithful.  I  hope  that  you 
will  belong  to  the  latter  class.  You  have  your  life 
to  live,  and  you  must  be  a  man  not  only  successful 
in  a  worldly  sense,  but  also  respected  by  your  fel- 
low men  and  beloved  by  all  good  people.  You  are 
now  at  school — these  many  days  will  test  your 
character  and  bring  out  whatever  is  best  in  you, 
if  only  you  are  loyal  and  true.  Stand  like  a  rock 
therefore.  You  have  given  yourself  to  Christ, 
standing  up  before  the  whole  congregation  saying, 
*  I  am  a  Christian  and  I  will  be  faithful  to  my 
Master  while  I  live. '    You  want  to  be  a  brave  sol- 


178     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

dier  when  you  stand  in  the  face  of  danger;  it  is 
far  more  important  that  you  should  be  a  brave 
man,  standing  true  to  God  in  the  face  of  all  the 
temptations  that  you  meet." 

One  who  reads  these  letters  is  ready  to  agree  to 
the  truth  of  an  illuminating  sentence  contained  in 
a  missive  to  one  who  was  struggling  with  doubts : 

*^  To  me  religion  can  all  be  expressed  in  one 
little  line,  *  Jesus  and  I  are  friends/  That  is  my 
creed. ' ' 

Of  course  Dr.  Miller's  daily  mail  was  full  of 
answering  letters  from  those  privileged  to  receive 
the  wonderful  messages  of  counsel  and  help.  One 
day  this  came  from  a  weary  minister  whose  heart 
was  weighted  with  woe : 

*'  Your  note  is  like  a  breath  from  the  balsams, 
bringing  refreshment  and  cheer  to  my  dear  suf- 
fering wife  and  to  me.  Now  and  then  when  riding 
to  my  appointments  when  I  was  a  country  pastor 
in  eastern  North  Carolina,  I  used  to  come  sud- 
denly upon  a  little  stretch  of  road  which  was  made 
fragrant  by  the  yellow  jasmine,  or  bay.  Your 
letter  reminds  me  of  such  an  experience,  and  I 
thank  you  with  all  my  heart. ' ' 

One  whom  Dr.  Miller  had  encouraged  in  his 
struggle  to  secure  an  education  against  odds 
wrote,  years  after  his  graduation : 

**  Just  a  line  to  express  my  deep  gratitude  for 
all  that  you  have  been  to  me  during  the  years  that 


MINISTERING  THROUGH  THE  MAILS    179 

have  elapsed  since  we  first  met.  In  going  over 
my  effects  I  found  letters  of  encouragement  from 
you  at  the  completion  of  my  college  and  seminary 
career,  and  letters  of  cheer  to  greet  a  homesick 
boy  arriving  at  Salt  Lake  City.  In  fact  there 
were  no  experiences  of  joy  or  sorrow  that  met  me 
that  you  did  not  share  with  me.  I  have  treasured 
these  letters  all  these  years. 

*^  What  little  good  I  have  done  in  the  Master's 
cause  is  largely  due  to  the  stimulus  of  your  in- 
fluence. ' ' 

On  learning  of  the  sudden  death  of  a  mission- 
ary, Dr.  Miller  wrote  at  once  to  the  parents,  al- 
though he  had  never  met  them.  Not  long  after  he 
received  grateful  acknowledgment  from  the  fa- 
ther : 

**  I  write,  thanking  you  for  your  most  cordial, 
timely  and  useful  letter  of  condolence.  It  com- 
forted both  of  us.  Your  allusions  and  illustra- 
tions were,  as  customary  with  you,  most  apt  and 
telling.  We  have,  in  fact,  felt  more  exultation 
and  deep  joy  than  grief,  in  hearing  of  our  son's 
work,  and  its  triumphant  close — on  earth.  Your 
letter,  so  prompt,  apt  and  extended,  and  from  a 
source  more  appealing  to  us  than  you  could  know, 
went  far  to  confirm  and  heighten  in  us  the  feelings 
named.  That  you  could  find  time  to  write  it,  and 
that  you  took  the  time  and  thought,  meant  much 
to  us,  and  lent  emphasis  to  your  kind  and  wise 
words.  You  doubtless  do  not  need  this  response 
as  an  encouragement  to  like  future  ministries  to 
others,  but  the  circumstances  forbid  our  silence: 
you  ought  to  be  told,  sometimes,  what  flavour  God 
lends  to  your  words,  and  thus  what  power  they 
carry  for  good." 


180     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

The  passion  for  writing  letters  continued  to  the 
last.  One  day  in  May,  1912,  while  unable  to  leave 
his  chair,  Dr.  Miller  dictated  letters  to  a  minister 
who  was  celebrating  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
his  pastorate,  to  a  young  man  who  was  that  day 
moving  into  his  new  home,  to  a  sick  friend,  and 
to  a  man  who  had  just  been  highly  honoured.  His 
last  letter — written  several  weeks  before  his 
death — was  a  message  of  appreciation  to  an  as- 
sociate. He  was  so  feeble  that  he  fell  asleep  sev- 
eral times  before  the  letter  was  completed,  but  he 
would  not  give  up.  He  had  thoroughly  learned 
that 

^*  Just  the  art  of  being  kind 
Is  all  the  great  world  needs." 

He  had  learned  this  lesson  from  his  Friend.  And 
tens  of  thousands  have  been  the  richer  because  of 
his  desire  to  pass  on  what  his  Friend  had  taught 
him. 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH 


God  is  always  sending  people  to  us  in  providential  ways. 
We  do  not  know  why  they  came  to  us,  why  they  pass  within 
the  range  of  our  influence.  But  in  whatever  way  they  are 
sent  to  us  we  have  some  errand  to  them.  They  may  need  our 
sympathy,  our  encouragement,  our  comfort,  our  protection, 
the  influence  of  our  friendship.  Let  us  be  careful  lest  while 
we  are  busy  here  and  there  they  are  gone  without  having 
received  the  influence  which  God  intended  us  to  give  them. — 
From  ''  The  Work  of  the  Lord,"  in  "  The  Gate  Beautiful." 

We  may  do  the  peacemaker's  work  by  seeking  always  to 
bring  together  those  who  have  been  estranged.  In  every  com- 
munity there  are  such  persons.  Sometimes  they  live  under 
the  same  roof  and  eat  at  the  same  table.  There  are  brothers 
and  sisters,  there  are  even  husbands  and  wives,  who  are 
further  apart  than  any  strangers,  A  thick  wall  of  rock  has 
been  built  up  between  them.  It  may  be  difficult  to  do  any- 
thing to  heal  such  estrangements.  But  even  in  the  most  un- 
happy and  most  hopeless  alienations  the  peacemaker's  holy 
work  may  yet  be  crowned  with  success. — From  "  On  Being 
a  Peacemaker"  in  " A  Heart  Garden" 

There  are  some  whose  lives  are  so  set  apart  for  ministry 
to  others  and  so  filled  with  calls  for  service  that  they  seem 
to  have  no  opportunity  to  be  ministered  to  by  others.  They 
are  always  giving  and  never  receiving.  They  spend  their  days 
in  helping  others,  but  no  one  helps  them.  They  carry  the 
burdens  of  many,  but  no  one  comes  to  cany  their  burden. 
They  are  comforters  of  the  sorrow  of  all  their  friends,  but  in 
their  own  grief  no  one  ministers  consolation  to  them.  They 
share  their  bread  with  the  hungry,  but  when  they  are  hungry 
no  man  gives  unto  them.  Yet  these  find  their  help  in  the 
very  serving  to  which  they  devote  their  lives.  In  feeding 
others,  they  are  fed.  In  comforting  others,  they  are  com- 
forted. In  blessing  others  they  are  blessed.  It  matters  not 
that  no  others  come  to  serve  them — they  are  served  in  their 
service. — From  "  Getting  Help  from  People"  in  *'  Upper. 
Currents," 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH 

During  the  last  year  of  his  life  Dr.  Miller  wrote 
what  was — for  him — an  unusually  personal  mes- 
sage to  one  who  sought  to  know  his  idea  of  con- 
secration.   He  wrote : 

*^  I  have  regarded  myself  as  reaching  the  most 
real  things  of  Christian  life  and  privilege  when  I 
have  let  Christ  possess  me  wholly,  living  in  me 
and  through  me.  I  have  felt  that  my  work  is 
simply  to  interpret  Christ  to  others,  to  let  Christ's 
love  pour  out  through  my  love,  to  let  Christ's 
cheer  for  others  voice  itself  through  my  words, 
and  to  live  out  as  far  as  I  can  the  unselfishness 
of  Christ  in  self -forgetful  service  of  others.  In- 
creasingly, during  recent  years,  God  has  been 
trusting  me  with  the  helping  of  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  people.  He  has  sent  them  to  me 
that  I  may  do  for  them  what  the  Master  Himself 
would  do  for  them  if  He  were  here  in  the  flesh. 
He  is  here  in  the  flesh  to  me,  and  in  a  small  de- 
gree, at  least,  I  am  to  let  Him  live  in  me  and  live 
through  me.  Persons  come  to  me  for  advice  and 
for  guidance  and  for  comfort  and  for  help  in  al- 
most every  experience,  and  for  rescue,  ofttimes 
when  it  seems  almost  to  be  impossible.  Increas- 
ingly, also,  I  have  found  that  God  is  ready  to  use 
me  for  the  helping  of  those  who  come  to  me,  some- 
times in  almost  startling  ways.    The  real  answer- 

183 


184     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

ing  of  prayers  in  a  great  many  cases  has  been 
something  that  has  awed  me. ' ' 

In  ^'  letting  Christ's  love  pour  out  "  through 
his  love  he  made  no  distinctions  among  people. 
No  matter  who  they  were,  or  where  they  lived,  if 
they  needed  the  help  he  could  give,  to  them  was 
help  to  be  given.  When  he  was  asked  to  conduct  a 
funeral  service  a  favourable  answer  did  not  de- 
pend on  the  fact  that  the  family  worshipped  with 
the  congregation  of  which  he  was  pastor;  he  at- 
tended scores  of  funerals  in  the  homes  of  total 
strangers.  Especially  in  the  summer  when  other 
ministers  were  away  on  vacation  he  answered  calls 
from  members  of  many  churches  and  from  mem- 
bers of  no  church. 

So  it  was  with  his  calls  on  the  sick  and  the  sor- 
rowing, ho  was  at  the  service  of  anyone  and 
everyone.  Once  a  woman  asked  him  to  visit  her 
daughter  who  was  dying  of  consumption.  *^  She 
heard  you  pray  in  the  house  of  a  friend,  and  she 
wants  you,'*  was  the  explanation.  *^  We  are 
Catholics,  but  that  won't  make  any  difference, 
wiU  it?  '' 

One  day  a  stranger  asked  him  if  he  would  go 
and  see  his  invalid  mother.  **  She  read  your 
books,  and  she  wants  to  see  you.''  Dr.  Miller  went 
to  her,  but  when  he  saw  he  was  in  a  Catholic  home 
he  did  not  offer  to  pray.  Yet  not  only  was  he 
asked  to  lead  in  prayer ;  he  was  urged  to  return. 
This  was  the  first  of  many  calls  there. 

He  did  not  wait  to  be  urged  to  go  to  homes 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PAEISH  185 

outside  of  his  own  parisli  where  lie  felt  he  might 
be  useful.  Learning  that  a  member  of  another 
church,  who  lived  near  his  own  home,  was  an  in- 
valid, and  knowing  that  her  own  pastor  was  un- 
able to  see  her  often,  he  called  on  her  three  times 
a  week  for  several  years.  *'  I  am  comparatively 
well  now,"  the  recipient  of  these  visits. said  a  few 
days  after  the  close  of  Dr.  Miller's  earthly  serv- 
ice, ^^  and  I  feel  that  I  owe  my  renewed  health — 
in  large  measure — to  God's  blessing  on  the  regular 
visits  of  that  godly  man.  Oh,  it  was  good  to  see 
his  kindly  smiling  face  and  to  hear  his  words  of 
cheer  and  hope." 

One  morning  a  message  came  to  the  editorial 
office  telling  of  the  death  by  accident  of  the  little 
daughter  of  a  woman  not  a  member  of  his  church. 
Dr.  Miller  took  the  next  train  and  remained  with 
the  mother  imtil  she  was  calm  and  serene. 

Such  visits  made  by  some  workers  among  the 
members  of  another  church  might  cause  friction — 
but  never  when  Dr.  Miller  was  the  caller.  His 
spirit  was  so  thoroughly  understood  and  appre- 
ciated that  pastors  of  all  denominations  as  well 
as  priests  of  the  Catholic  Church  welcomed  his 
presence  among  their  parishioners.  They  knew 
that  his  life  was  ordered  in  accordance  with  the 
plea  once  made  by  him  in  public: 

'*  In  the  great  central  truths  of  Christianity  all 
evangelical  churches  are  agreed.  Let  us  not  waste 
a  moment's  time  or  a  breath  of  energy  in  strife 
with  other  believers;  let  us  rather  unite  all  our 


186     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

energies  in  doing  good,  in  honouring  Christ  by 
telling  the  story  of  His  love  to  all  men,  and  by 
carrying  the  joy  and  cheer  of  the  gospel  every- 
where. The  church  that  shows  the  world  the  most 
love,  and  that  lives  the  most  sweetly,  the  most 
joyously,  the  most  helpfully,  is  the  church  that 
comes  the  nearest  to  the  Master's  thought.  That 
is  the  sort  of  church  that  every  Christian  should 
strive  to  make  his  to  be. ' ' 

The  more  numerous  the  demands  on  his  time 
and  attention  and  sympathy  the  better  Dr.  Miller 
was  pleased.  He  was  always  thinking  of  others, 
and  he  liked  to  be  '^  spent  clear  out  for  others.'' 
His  idea  of  the  secret  of  happiness  was  given  to 
one  who  asked  him  to  compose  a  Christmas  greet- 
ing to  be  sent  to  friends : 

**  The  less  you  think  of  what  Christmas  will 
bring  to  you  and  the  more  you  think  of  what  you 
can  do  for  others,  the  happier  will  the  day  be. 
If  you  think  of  one  who  is  not  likely  to  receive 
any  attention  and  plan  to  make  the  day  bright  for 
that  one,  joy  will  fill  your  own  heart.  This  is  the 
only  secret." 

That  this  was  his  way  of  spending  Christmas 
was  learned  by  a  friend  who  had  been  hoping  to 
spend  the  holiday  at  home  with  his  family. 
Christmas  came  on  Sunday  that  year,  and  the 
friend  had  no  engagements  to  preach.  But  on 
Saturday  he  was  asked  to  preach  in  the  morning 
for  a  pastor  whose  wife  had  just  died,  and  in  the 
evening  for  another  pastor  who  was  seriously  ill. 
*^  I  won't  say  it  is  too  bad  you  are  to  have  a 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH  187 

Christmas  like  that,"  was  Dr.  Miller's  comment. 
*^  You  are  not  to  be  pitied,  but  to  be  congratu- 
lated. The  best  Christmas  is  a  Christmas  of 
service.  This  morning  at  prayer  I  thanked  God 
for  the  busy  week  he  has  sent  me.  It  has  been 
a  glorious  week.  I  have  slept  very  little.  The 
burdens  and  woes  of  many  have  been  on  my  heart. 
There  have  been  a  number  of  special  cases — some 
that  could  be  met  by  money,  and  some  that  money 
could  not  reach.  I  rejoice  that  they  have  been 
brought  to  me. ' ' 

Many  of  these  cases  were  brought  to  his  atten- 
tion by  visitors  who  came  to  the  office.  They  came 
singly  and  together,  from  morning  to  night,  all 
through  the  year.  They  were  never  denied  ad- 
mission, but  were  received  by  the  secretary  who 
admitted  them  at  once  to  Dr.  Miller's  room, — un- 
less there  was  already  a  visitor  there.  The  secre- 
tary's room  frequently  looked  like  the  anteroom 
of  a  famous  specialist.  It  was  a  noticeable  fact 
that  few  of  the  waiting  men  and  women  spoke  to 
one  another.  Most  of  them  were  entire  strangers. 
They  came  from  all  parts  of  the  city,  from  other 
cities  and  states,  and  even  from  abroad.  Fre- 
quently one  came  a  long  distance  on  purpose  to 
confer  about  some  life  problem  that  was  troubling 
him. 

'^  What  tales  those  walls  could  tell,"  one  of  Dr. 
Miller's  friends  once  said,  '^  tales  of  tears,  of 
blighted  lives,  of  discouraged  parents,  of  ambi- 
tious youths,  of  anxious  business  men,  of  down- 


188     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

hearted  Cliristian  workers,  of  penitent  sinners !  I 
wish  I  dared  to  tell  a  few  of  the  incidents  that  I 
know,  illustrating  what  has  resulted  from  these 
short  conferences.  Aspiring  young  people  are 
assisted  to  an  education;  the  needy  are  tided  over 
hard  places;  the  transgressor  is  helped  back  to 
manhood  and  truth;  homes  are  healed  of  dissen- 
sions that  seemed  fatal. ' ' 

What  passed  in  that  room  was  sacred.  Dr.  Mil- 
ler did  not  betray  the  confidence  of  those  who 
sought  him.  But  sometimes  circumstances  made 
it  necessary  that  one  or  two  others  should  share 
a  portion  of  the  secret.  For  this  reason  it  is  pos- 
sible to  give  a  few  glimpses  into  the  lives  of  those 
who  made  pilgrimages  to  the  room  of  this  friend 
of  Jesus. 

A  troubled  woman  told  of  her  husband's  diffi- 
culties. ^*  He  is  a  splendid  man,''  she  said,  **  but 
I  know  there  is  something  preying  on  his  mind. 
I  cannot  help  him  in  this.  I  do  not  know  who  can^ 
unless  you  will.  He  thinks  everything  of  you, 
though  you  do  not  know  him."  So  Dr.  Miller 
went  out  in  search  of  the  husband,  who  held  a 
position  of  trust  with  a  large  business  house. 

A  stranger  told  the  sad  story  of  a  husband  and 
wife.  The  wife  was  employed  in  a  store  from 
which  she  brought  home  many  things  for  which 
her  husband  knew  they  could  not  pay.  *  ^  You  can- 
not afford  this,  can  you?  "  he  would  ask  her. 
At  last  she  was  arrested  for  the  theft  of  the  goods, 
and  he  was  arrested  with  her  as  a  receiver  of  the 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH  189 

stolen  property.  Before  the  case  was  called  for 
trial  the  wife  collapsed  and  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital. To  the  judge  the  husband  stated  the  case, 
and  appealed  in  behalf  of  the  wife.  ^^  She  will 
die  if  she  goes  to  prison,"  he  said.  ''  I  will  plead 
guilty.  Send  me  in  her  place.''  The  prosecuting 
attorney  agreed,  and  the  judge  sentenced  him  to 
serve  eighteen  months  in  jail.  Verifying  the  facts 
as  told  him,  Dr.  Miller  was  able  to  secure  the  re- 
duction of  the  term.  Then  the  problem  was  to 
place  the  wife  until  her  husband  should  be  able 
to  care  for  her.  Learning  that  her  mother  lived 
in  Boston,  and  that  it  would  be  possible  for  her 
to  live  with  the  mother  and  sew  for  a  living,  Dr. 
Miller  arranged  for  this  and  paid  the  expenses 
to  Boston. 

With  averted  face  a  young  woman  told  her 
story :  She  had  been  detected  in  shoplifting  by  an 
officer  in  one  of  Philadelphia 's  smaller  department 
stores.  When  taken  to  the  private  office  of  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  she  confessed  and  asked  for  mercy. 
The  business  man  told  her  she  would  be  released 
on  one  condition — that  she  go  to  Dr.  Miller,  and 
tell  him  all  about  her  sin,  and  listen  to  what  he 
would  say  to  her.  And  this  man  had  no  personal 
acquaintance  with  Dr.  Miller,  and  was  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church ! 

Two  visitors  from  a  town  three  or  four  hun- 
dred miles  distant  came  to  inquire  for  a  boarding 
place  within  reach  of  St.  Paul  Church.  *^  We 
have  come  down  to  spend  the  winter, ' '  the  mother 


190     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

said  to  Dr.  Miller,  ^'  because  my  daughter  needs 
you.  We  have  read  your  books,  and  we  feel  that 
she  should  be  able  to  listen  to  your  preaching, 
Sunday  after  Sunday.  She  is  making  a  brave 
effort  to  overcome  a  besetting  sin.  We  feel  that 
you  can  help  us  as  no  other  man  can. ' ' 

The  telephone  announced  the  arrival  in  the  city 
of  two  strangers  who  had  hoped  to  reach  the  office 
that  afternoon.  Their  train  had  been  delayed  and 
they  wished  to  know  if  it  was  too  late  to  call.  Dr. 
Miller  was  just  leaving  his  office,  so  he  asked  them 
to  meet  him  at  his  home.  There  he  spent  half  an 
hour  with  them  in  sympathetic  conversation  about 
their  difficulties.  After  he  had  prayed  with  them, 
they  hurried  away  to  catch  a  night  train  back  to 
the  city  from  which  they  had  come.  They  had 
travelled  many  hours  for  the  one  purpose  of  talk- 
ing with  one  who  had  already  spoken  to  them 
helpfully  through  his  books ! 

A  stranger  explained  that  her  husband  of  a 
year  had  left  her,  and  refused  to  return.  Both 
husband  and  wife  were  unknown  to  Dr.  Miller,  but 
he  went  out  at  once,  found  the  man,  and  persuaded 
him  to  go  home  for  a  conference  with  his  wife.  He 
himself  went  with  the  husband.  For  two  hours 
the  three  were  together.  When  Dr.  Miller  left  the 
house  the  home  which  had  been  threatened  with  de- 
struction was  out  of  danger.  From  that  day  hus- 
band and  wife  dated  the  real  beginning  of  their 
happiness.  Next  day  Dr.  Miller  wrote  them  a 
long  letter.    Here  are  some  paragraphs: 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH  191 

'  *  You  do  not  begin  to  understand  my  loving  in- 
terest in  you  and  your  husband,  and  my  desire  for 
the  complete  restoration  of  the  happiness  of  your 
home.  It  must  not  be  possible  for  you  two  dear 
lovers  to  fall  apart.  Nothing  really  serious  has 
happened  to  mar  your  fellowship.  You  have  not 
understood  each  other  quite  perfectly — that  is  all 
— and  you  have  not  had  quite  patience  enough 
with  each  other,  so  things  have  gone  wrong  a 
little,  and  your  relations  have  become  a  bit  tan- 
gled. But  it  is  going  to  be  all  right  now.  You 
will  not  let  anything  so  small  do  you  both  and 
your  home  such  harm. 

''  Longfellow  tells  of  going  out  one  morning 
after  a  heavy  night  storm,  and  walking  through 
his  garden.  Under  a  tree  he  saw  a  birds'  nest 
lying  on  the  ground.  He  pitied  the  birds,  and 
stood  there  thinking  sadly  of  their  misfortune. 
But  while  he  was  musing,  he  heard  a  chattering 
overhead,  and,  looking  up,  saw  the  little  birds 
busy  building  their  nest  again.  They  were  not 
defeated  nor  greatly  discouraged  by  the  disaster. 

'  ^  That  is  what  I  am  sure  you  and  your  husband 
are  doing  already.  The  storm  came  and  swept 
your  nest  to  the  ground.  Yesterday  it  seemed  to 
you  that  it  could  not  be  restored.  But  now  you 
have  taken  time  to  think,  and  are  bravely  build- 
ing the  nest  again.  And  it  is  going  to  be  more 
beautiful,  and  fuller  of  love,  joy  and  song  than 
ever  it  has  been  before. 

^*  It  may  not  seem  very  easy  to  save  your  home 
after  all  that  has  happened,  but  no  matter  what 
it  costs,  it  will  be  a  thousand  times  worth  doing. 
Love  is  the  sweetest  thing  in  the  world,  but  love 
is  not  easy.  It  means  much  self-denial,  much 
forgetting  of  one's  own  wishes,  much  restraining 
of  one's  own  impulses,  much  curbing  and  check- 


192     THE  LIFE  OF  DB.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

ing  of  one's  own  feelings.  St.  Paul  tells  ns  that 
*  love  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind  .  .  .  doth  not 
behave  itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not  its  own,  is 
not  provoked,  taketh  not  account  of  evil;  .  .  . 
beareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things,  hopeth  all 
things,  endureth  all  things.'  It  is  not  easy  to  love 
in  this  way.  It  takes  the  grace  of  God  in  our 
hearts  to  enable  us  to  love  after  this  fashion. 

**  You  and  your  husband  love  each  other.  You 
have  not  forgotten  the  lover  days.  When  you 
were  first  married,  your  love  was  deep  and  tender. 
Somehow  you  have  not  always  been  happy  since. 
Little  things  have  come  in  to  make  you  unhappy 
some  days.  But  your  love  is  really  true  and 
strong  as  ever.  It  would  break  your  hearts  to  be 
separated.  All  you  want  is  to  get  this  love  into 
the  common  relations  of  your  lives.  You  have  not 
quite  learned  yet  how  to  deny  yourselves  and  give 
up  for  each  other. 

**  There  are  wondrous  possibilities  in  your  mar- 
ried life.  You  two  dear  young  people  may  be  the 
happiest  in  the  city,  and  your  home  may  become 
the  sweetest,  happiest  home  in  all  the  community. 
All  you  need  in  order  to  realise  these  possibilities 
is  love  worked  out  in  thought,  in  word,  in  act,  in 
disposition.  Do  not  blame  each  other  when  things 
go  awry — ^blame  each,  yourself.  Never  allow 
yourself  to  be  vexed  or  hurt,  at  least  to  show  it, 
no  matter  how  much  you  think  you  have  been 
wronged,  or  how  unjustly  you  think  you  have  been 
treated.  Love  each  other  as  Christ  loves  you. 
Eepay  unkindness  with  kindness.  If  you  think 
you  have  been  unfairly  treated,  or  unkindly,  be 
especially  kind  in  return.  That  is  the  way  to  pay 
back  an  evil  thing  done  to  you. 

**  God  bless  you.  I  believe  that  a  year  from 
now  you  will  tell  me  you  have  had  the  happiest 


DR.  J.  R.  MILLER  (1904) 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH  193 

year  you  ever  have  had;  that  the  nest  which  the 
storm  tore  down  has  been  built  again,  and  is  more 
beautiful  than  ever  it  was  before." 

The  letter  in  full  is  given  in  the  chapter 
*  *  Building  Again  the  Home  Nest  "  in  ^ '  The  Gate 
Beautiful." 

After  reading  of  such  experiences  as  these  in 
dealing  with  the  sorrows  and  anxieties  of  his 
visitors,  no  one  will  wonder  that  he  gave  this  coun- 
sel to  one  who  was  perplexed : 

**  With  regard  to  yourself,  let  me  say  that  the 
more  implicitly  you  can  trust  Christ  with  your 
life  and  all  its  affairs,  the  sweeter  will  be  your 
peace  and  the  deeper  the  joy  of  your  heart.  It 
seems  to  me  that  people  ofttimes  miss  blessing 
because  they  do  not  trust  fully  enough.  God  loves 
to  have  us  trust  Him.  I  know  by  experience  the 
joy  it  gives  to  me  to  have  some  one  repose  im- 
plicit confidence  in  me,  telling  me  everything.  I 
often  think  that  this  must  be  a  little  hint  of  the 
joy  which  Christ  has  when  we  trust  Him  perfectly. 
We  all  know,  too,  how  it  pains  us  to  have  a  friend 
withhold  confidence,  trust  only  partly,  or  perhaps 
fear  and  doubt  us.  This  is  also  a  suggestion  of 
how  Christ's  heart  must  be  grieved  when  we  do 
not  fully  trust  Him." 

One  of  those  who  unburdened  his  heart  to  this 
friend  of  the  needy  was  a  college  student.  In  a 
letter  written  long  after  his  graduation  he  told  his 
own  story: 

^*  I  recall  very  vividly  how,  when  I  was  at 
Princeton  making  my  own  way  through  college, 


194     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  K.  MILLER 

I  was  once  very  much  disheartened  and  stopped 
in  for  a  little  heart-to-heart  talk  with  you  on  my 
way  back  from  my  home.  The  kindness  with 
which  you  talked  my  burden  into  blessing  I  shall 
not  soon  forget.  That  was  in  my  freshman  year. 
At  that  time  you  gave  me  a  little  book  which  I 
prize  most  highly.  Afterwards  you  wrote  to  me 
a  few  times  and  I  called  in  to  see  you  on  several 
occasions.  All  this,  I  presume,  is  forgotten  by 
you.    With  me  it  is  a  sweet  memory." 

One  secret  of  Dr.  Miller's  Christlike  living  is 
laid  bare  in  these  paragraphs  from  his  own  pen : 

r~  ^^  I  seek  in  the  morning  to  give  myself  to  my 
Master  for  that  day,  saying : '  Take  me,  Lord,  and 
use  me  to-day  as  Thou  wilt.  I  lay  all  my  plans  at 
Thy  feet.  Whatever  work  Thou  hast  for  me  to  do, 
give  it  into  my  hands.  If  there  are  those  Thou 
wouldst  have  me  help  in  any  way,  send  them  to 
me  or  send  me  to  them.  Take  my  time  and  use 
it  as  Thou  wilt. '  I  think  no  farther  on  than  to-day, 
I  make  no  attempt  to  give  months  and  years  to 
Christ.   .    .    . 

^^  Sometimes  the  very  first  one  to  come  to  me 
in  the  golden  hours  of  the  morning,  which  are  so 
precious  to  every  student,  is  a  book  agent,  or  a 
man  with  fountain  pens  or  stove  polish,  or  per- 
chance only  a  pious  idler  who  has  no  errand  but 
to  pass  an  hour,  or  it  may  be  one  of  those  social 
newswenders  who  like  to  be  the  first  to  retail  the 
freshest  gossip.  Interrupted  thus  in  the  midst  of 
some  interesting  and  important  work,  my  first 
impulse  is  to  chafe  and  fret,  but  then  I  remember 
my  morning  consecration.  Did  I  not  put  my  plans 
and  my  time  out  of  my  own  hands  into  my  Mas- 
ter 's  ?   Let  us  beware  that  we  do  not  bow  out  of  our 


THE  WORLD  HIS  PARISH  195 

door  with  a  frown  one  whom  God  has  sent  either 
with  a  message  or  a  benediction  for  ns ;  for  even 
in  these  prosaic  days  heaven  sends  angels,  though 
they  may  come  unawares,  not  wearing  their  ce- 
lestial robes,  but  disguised  in  unattractive  garb.'' 

There  was  more  to  that  morning  prayer  than 
consecration.  There  was  a  period  of  earnest  in- 
tercession for  people  all  over  the  world — people 
who  had  written  to  him,  or  called  on  him,  or  whose 
work  he  was  following.  One  morning  he  turned 
from  such  a  prayer  to  pen  a  message  to  Dr.  F.  B. 
Meyer  in  London : 

*'  I  write  a  word  which  I  hope  may  reach  you 
before  you  start  on  your  Eastern  preaching  tour. 
I  cannot  tell  you  what  deep  interest  I  have  in 
this  journey  of  yours — this  apostolic  journey 
which  you  are  to  make  for  the  Master.  I  am  sure 
that  God's  blessing  will  be  upon  you.  You  will 
have  the  prayers  of  thousands  of  friends  as  you 
go  your  way  to  speak  the  words  of  Christ.  Your 
journey  through  this  country  left  a  path  of  bless- 
ing, and  in  eternity  you  will  meet  those  who  will 
thank  you  for  the  words  you  spoke  which  made 
the  truth  of  Christ  more  clear  and  brought  them 
nearer  to  the  Master's  heart.  I  am  sure  that  the 
same  blessing  will  attend  you  in  your  work  in 
India  and  elsewhere.  Of  course  you  will  have  the 
difficulty  of  speaking  through  an  interpreter,  but 
even  this  will  not  prove  to  be  a  serious  hindrance, 
when  the  Spirit  of  God  speaks  through  you.  I 
write  out  of  my  heart  just  this  word  of  farewell, 
to  assure  you  of  prayer  for  you  as  you  go  upon 
your  mission.    I  trust  that  you  will  be  preserved 


196     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

in  good  health  and  will  come  back  in  due  tune  re- 
freshed and  strong. '* 

The  return  of  the  mail  brought  grateful  re- 
sponse from  Dr.  Meyer : 

**  I  am  sure  that  your  letter  was  prompted  by 
the  Spirit  to  strengthen  me  in  view  of  this  jour- 
ney. Naturally  my  whole  nature  shrinks  appalled 
and  overwhelmed.  But  God  says  '  On.  ^  And  your 
letter  is  as  a  fresh  assurance.  I  am  full  of 
preparation  and  work;  so  must  be  content  with 
this.  Only  be  sure  that  your  words  have  been 
very  sweet  to  me.  What  a  comradeship  there  is  on 
this  battle  field!  What  companionship  when  we 
get  home!  '' 

Every  morning  he  renewed  his  touch  with 
Christ  so  that  he  would  not  lose  it  through  the 
busy  hours.  It  was  his  habit  to  close  every  day 
by  reporting  to  his  Friend.    Of  this  habit  he  said : 

**  The  disciples  returned  at  evening  and  made 
a  report  to  Christ  of  their  work.  Thus  I  tell  Him 
of  my  life  during  the  day,  my  dealings  with  per- 
sons who  have  come  into  it,  and  whatever  has 
been  attempted — in  short,  the  whole  day's  work: 
its  efforts,  failures,  mistakes,  sins  and  joys. 
That  is  my  evening  prayer.'' 

Evening  prayer  like  that  prepared  him  for  the 
next  day's  consecration,  so  that  each  day's 
glimpse  of  his  Friend  was  more  satisfying  and 
complete  than  that  of  the  preceding  day,  and  he 
was  the  more  completely  equipped  than  ever  for 
his  world-wide  ministry  of  comfort  and  help. 


VACATION  DAYS 


There  is  no  doubt  that,  even  in  the  estimation  of  men, 
talking  of  oneself  does  one  harm,  defeating  the  very  end 
one  has  in  view  in  seeking  honour.  It  is  almost  universally 
true  that  whenever  a  man  begins  to  talk  about  himself,  he 
hurts  himself  with  those  to  whom  he  speaks.  He  makes  him- 
self appear  less  noble  and  winning  to  them.  The  good  things 
he  says  about  himself,  however  true  they  may  be,  lose  much 
of  their  lustre  and  worthiness  by  being  proclaimed  by  his  own 
lips.  Self-praise  never  can  appear  lovely,  no  matter  how  true 
it  is,  nor  how  deserving.  The  spirit  which  prompts  a  man 
to  talk  about  himself,  however  it  may  be  disguised,  is  really 
self-conceit;  and  self-conceit  is  not  only  a  disfiguring  blemish 
in  a  character;  it  is  also  a  mark  of  weakness  in  a  life.  Its 
revealing  always  makes  one  less  strong  and  influential  with 
one's  fellows.  Instead  of  taking  the  self -conceited  man's  own 
estimate  of  himself,  people  discount  it  so  heavily  that  they 
are  likely,  on  account  of  his  self-praise,  to  rate  him  much 
below  his  true  value.  Thus  a  man's  very  object  in  talking 
about  himself,  and  proclaiming  his  own  virtues  and  good 
deeds,  is  defeated.  He  does  not  receive  praise  of  men,  but 
dislike  and  depreciation  instead  of  praise. — From  ^'  Talking 
About  Oneself/'  in  ^'  Things  to  Live  For." 


CHAPTER  XII 

VACATION  DAYS 

De.  Miller  was  so  busy  ministering  to  others  that 
he  would  seldom  take  time  for  a  vacation.  His 
pastoral  work  and  his  editorial  duties  were  so 
pressing  that  the  convenient  season  for  vacation 
was  usually  just  a  little  bit  in  the  future.  The 
thought  of  the  sick  who  needed  him  and  the  homes 
from  which  some  one  might  be  called  from  earth 
held  him  in  the  city  when  the  homes  of  many  of 
his  people  were  closed  for  a  period ;  desire  to  give 
personal  supervision  to  the  editorial  work  com- 
mitted to  him  by  the  Church  kept  him  at  his  desk 
when  his  assistants  were  at  the  seaside  or  in  the 
mountains. 

Yet  he  never  lost  sympathy  with  others  as  they 
planned  for  vacation  journeyings.  It  was  not  his 
way  to  insist  that  vacations  were  a  foolish  waste 
of  time, — ^he  urged  others  to  take  the  rest  they 
required,  the  reward  of  earnest  toil,  and  the 
preparation  for  further  toil,  but  when  he  was 
urged  to  take  his  own  advice,  his  only  reply  would 
be  a  smile. 

It  was  his  delight  to  think  of  the  pleasures  of 
travel  and  the  delights  of  the  country  for  other 
people.    But  it  never  seemed  to  occur  to  him  that 

199 


200     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

these  pleasures  and  delights  were  for  him.  It  was 
enough  for  him  that  he  could  live  on  the  memory 
of  rambles  in  the  fields  and  woods  in  past  years. 
Such  memories  enabled  him  once  to  say  to  vaca- 
tion wanderers : 

**  The  vacation  days  furnish  opportunity  for 
reading  a  book  which  is  not  printed  in  ordinary 
type — the  book  of  Nature.  God  wrote  it  himself. 
Every  leaf  is  a  little  chapter,  every  flower  teaches 
its  sweet  lesson,  every  blade  of  grass  has  its  touch 
of  inspiration,  every  waving  tree  is  a  whole  volume 
in  itself.  Then  mountains  and  rivers  and  valleys 
and  seas  are  written  all  over  the  great  thoughts 
of  God.  Blessed  is  he  who  learns  to  read  what 
God  has  written  in  these  natural  things. '' 

He  used  the  vacation  season  as  an  opportunity 
to  teach  young  people  such  lessons  as  these : 

**  One  should  not  take  a  vacation  from  being 
good  and  doing  good,  even  while  resting.  There 
is  only  one  record  of  Jesus  giving  or  seeking  to 
give  his  disciples  a  vacation,  and  his  word  to 
them  was  not,  '  Go  ye  apart,  and  rest  awhile/  but 
*  Come  ye  apart,  and  rest.'  They  were  to  go  with 
him.  We  are  not  to  leave  Christ  and  Christ's 
service  or  the  Christ-life,  when  we  turn  aside  for 
a  little  rest.  Some  people  seem  to  think  that  they 
should  drop  everything,  even  their  church  life, 
sometimes  their  Christian  behaviour,  when  they 
go  away  to  take  a  vacation.  But  this  is  not  right. 
We  must  be  Christians  wherever  we  go,  for  we  are 
always  on  duty,  we  always  represent  Christ. 
Wherever  we  go  we  should  go  with  Christ. 
Wherever  we  stay,  even  for  a  day,  we  should  con- 
fess Christ." 


VACATION  DAYS  201 

Again  he  gave  this  word  of  kindly  counsel : 

*  *  A  vacation  should  be  fruitful  in  wayside  min- 
istries of  kindness.  We  lay  down  our  routine  duty 
and  taskwork  for  a  little  while.  We  do  not  hurry 
away  in  the  morning  to  school  or  office  or  field. 
We  relax  the  tension  and  take  life  leisurely.  But 
there  is  a  work  which  we  never  should  lay  down — 
we  should  go  on  with  lovers  duty  just  as  diligently 
in  our  resting  weeks  as  in  our  busiest  days.  Love 
is  like  God — it  ^  worketh  hitherto/  it  takes  no 
vacations,  knows  no  Sabbaths,  never  intermits. 
Love's  ministry  should  go  on  while  we  are  resting 
from  business  cares.  Not  always  do  people  re- 
member this,  however.  Some  grow  selfish  when 
away  from  home  and  fail  in  those  gentle  cour- 
tesies and  graceful  services  which  are  the  charm 
of  a  truly  beautiful  life.  Countless  opportunities 
occur  when  we  are  travelling  or  tarrying  at  sum- 
mer resorts  for  a  ministry  of  gentle  manners  and 
thoughtful  ways  which  leaves  behind  its  unspeak- 
able blessing.  The  things  we  do  when  we  are  not 
supposed  to  be  doing  anything,  the  thousand  little 
unpurposed  acts,  are  truer  tests  of  the  real  char- 
acter of  our  life  than  the  things  we  do  with  pur- 
pose and  intention. ' ' 

On  the  rare  occasions  when  he  would  go  away 
from  the  city  to  seaside,  to  mountains,  or  to  the 
home  of  a  friend,  his  days  might  have  been  de- 
scribed most  fittingly  and  accurately  by  those  bits 
of  counsel  given  to  others.  Always  he  was  God's 
messenger  of  helpfulness  and  love.  Wherever  he 
was — on  the  hotel  piazza,  on  the  beach,  on  the 
forest   pathway — others   were   eager   to   gather 


202     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  E.  MILLER 

about  him.  When  guests  learned  that  he  was  in 
the  house,  as  soon  as  possible  they  sought  the 
author  whose  works  they  had  read  with  delight, 
and  when  they  talked  with  him  they  said  to  one 
another,  ''  He  is  just  like  his  books.''  He  was  in 
demand  for  morning  prayer  service  in  one  hotel 
where  he  spent  a  week  or  two  on  several  occasions, 
and  on  Sundays  he  was  urged  to  preach.  He  was 
glad  to  respond  to  such  invitations  when  this  was 
at  all  possible,  for  preaching  was  a  joy  to  him. 

During  the  thirty-two  years  of  his  service  as 
editor,  he  took  but  two  real  vacations.  The  first 
of  these  was  in  the  spring  of  1893.  The  Hon. 
John  Wanamaker,  his  friend  since  the  days  of  the 
pastorate  at  Bethany  Church,  was  celebrating  the 
close  of  his  four  years'  service  as  Postmaster 
General  in  the  cabinet  of  President  Harrison  by 
making  a  ten  weeks '  trip  to  Mexico  and  the  Pacific 
Coast.  Dr.  Miller  was  urged  to  join  the  party, 
which  was  made  up  of  the  merchant's  family  and 
intimate  friends.  The  busy  editor  felt  that  he 
could  not  think  of  such  a  long  absence  from  his 
duties,  but  he  finally  consented  to  join  the  party, 
four  weeks  after  leaving  Philadelphia,  at  El  Paso, 
Texas,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  Mexican  tour. 

At  El  Paso,  where  he  spent  Easter  Sunday,  the 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  took  advan- 
tage of  the  opportunity  to  have  Dr.  Miller  preach 
one  of  his  tender  Easter  sermons.  Dr.  Miller's 
heart  went  out  in  sympathy  to  the  lonely  pastor 
whose  nearest  Presbyterian  neighbour  was  two 


VACATION  DAYS  203 

hundred  miles  distant,  and  whose  people  were  zeal- 
ously working  in  their  difficult  field.  This  Sunday 
service  by  the  wayside  was  a  prophecy  of  later 
Sundays  of  the  vacation — always  such  insistent 
demands  were  made  on  the  traveller  that  he  forgot 
weariness  and  spoke  to  people  who  heard  his  word 
with  gladness. 

Next  day  Dr.  Miller  joined  Mr.  Wanamaker's 
party  in  their  private  cars,  and  continued  the  jour- 
ney to  California.  Every  mile  of  the  way  was  a 
delight  to  him,  as  was  shown  by  full  letters  to  the 
New  York  Evangelist.  The  busy  pen  was  not  per- 
mitted to  be  idle  even  one  day. 

Many  paragraphs  of  these  letters  were  devoted 
to  vivid  descriptions  of  the  scenery.  But  they 
were  composed  in  such  a  manner  that  a  reader 
familiar  with  the  writer's  devotional  books  would 
have  recognised  his  hand.  For  instance,  who 
could  mistake  this  sentence : 

**  We  all  know  how  much  genuine  human  inter- 
est adds  to  the  enjoyment  of  any  place  or  any 
natural  beauty.  A  visitor  at  a  jeweller's  looking 
at  an  opal,  remarked  that  it  seemed  dead  and  lus- 
treless. The  jeweller  took  it  in  his  hand  and  held 
it  a  few  moments,  and  when  he  laid  it  down  again, 
it  flashed  with  all  the  iridescence  of  the  rainbow. 
It  needed  the  warmth  of  the  human  hand  to  bring 
out  its  splendours.  This  country  would  seem  to 
need  nothing  to  give  full  life  to  its  scenery.  One 
might  drive  along  through  the  streets  and  wander 
through  the  canyons  and  climb  the  mountains  and 
breathe  the  wonderful  air,  and  without  receiving 


204     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

a  mark  of  hospitality  or  the  touch  of  a  human 
hand  he  could  not  but  be  charmed.  But  when  a 
party  is  received  into  the  home  life  and  social  life 
as  we  were,  a  warm,  rich  glow  is  added  to  all 
the  loveliness  of  the  place.  The  opal  was  made 
to  glow  before  our  eyes  with  richest  beauty  by  the 
warmth  of  the  hospitality  we  enjoyed." 

Again  an  illustration  was  used  most  happily  in 
connection  with  the  narrative  of  natural  beauty 
made  more  than  ever  memorable  by  reason  of  the 
loving  greetings  of  friends  of  other  days : 

**  Love  is  never  lost.  Nothing  that  love  does 
is  ever  forgotten.  Long,  long  afterwards  the  poet 
found  his  song,  from  beginning  to  end,  in  the  heart 
of  a  friend.  Love  shall  find  some  day  every  song 
it  has  ever  sung,  sweetly  treasured  and  singing 
yet  in  the  hearts  into  which  it  was  breathed.  It 
is  a  pretty  legend  of  the  origin  of  the  pearl  which 
says  that  a  star  fell  into  the  sea,  and  a  shellfish, 
opening  its  mouth,  received  it,  when  the  star  be- 
came a  pearl  in  the  shell.  The  words  of  love's 
greeting  as  we  hurry  by  fall  into  our  hearts,  not 
to  be  lost,  but  to  become  pearls  and  to  stay  there 
forever/' 

But  the  larger  portion  of  each  letter  was  given 
to  a  discussion  of  the  problems  and  progress  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  particular  and  reli- 
gion in  general  in  the  places  visited.  At  Pasadena 
he  told  of  preacl^ng  for  Dr.  Fife  at  the  Presby- 
terian church.  ^From  Oakland,  California,  he 
wrote  of  a  service  in  Dr.  Coyle's  church,  and  a 
Sunday  afternoon  visit  to  Mills  College,  where 


VACATION  DAYS  205 

several  hundred  young  women  gathered  to  listen 
to  him.  From  San  Francisco  he  described  China- 
town briefly,  as  if  in  a  hurry  to  pass  on  to  what 
he  evidently  considered  a  far  more  important  sub- 
ject— the  praise  of  consecrated  men  and  women 
who  were  giving  their  lives  to  take  the  gospel  to 
the  transplanted  heathen.  Again  from  Tacoma 
he  wrote  of  holding  a  church  service.  At  Salt 
Lake  City  he  preached  one  Sunday,  and  on  Mon- 
day he  excused  himself  when  the  party  went  to 
visit  a  silver  mine,  that  he  might  visit  the  Salt 
Lake  Collegiate  Institute,  speak  to  the  pupils,  and 
meet  the  teachers.  At  Kansas  City  he  preached 
in  the  Second  Church,  and  after  service  was 
waited  on  by  six  students  from  Park  College  who 
had  walked  the  nine  miles  from  Parkville  to  em- 
phasise the  letters  of  urgent  invitation  to  visit 
the  college  which  he  had  been  receiving  for  two 
weeks.  At  seven  o'clock  Monday  morning  two 
of  the  faculty  and  four  of  the  students  greeted 
him  and  Mr.  Wanamaker  at  the  Kansas  City 
station  and  escorted  them  to  the  college  town, 
where  they  were  met  at  the  train  by  the  entire 
faculty  and  almost  the  entire  student  body.  An 
hour  was  spent  at  the  chapel,  where  both  visitors 
talked.. 

At  the  close  of  each  service  held  along  the  way 
there  was  an  informal  reception.  Many  people 
wanted  to  say  a  word  to  Dr.  Miller  about  his  books, 
and  tell  him  how  his  words  had  helped  them.  As 
always,  he  was  astonished  at  the  evidence  of  feel- 


206     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

ing.    He  acted  as  if  lie  thought  the  words  were 
meant  for  some  one  else. 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Miller,  written  a  few  days 
before  reaching  Philadelphia,  he  told  his  delight 
in  the  unusual  vacation; 

*'  The  tour  has  not  been  a  mere  vacation  from 
work  for  Mr.  Wanamaker  and  myself.  We  have 
held  services  at  every  point.  I  am  sure  that  Mr. 
Wanamaker  has  left  encouragement  and  new 
strength  in  hundreds  of  Christian  hearts,  espe- 
cially by  his  words  to  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociations and  Sunday-school  teachers.  Certain  it 
is  that  we  would  hardly  have  done  as  much  preach- 
ing and  speaking  if  we  had  been  at  home.  It  has 
been  almost  like  some  of  St.  PauPs  journeyings 
through  the  country  to  confirm  the  souls  of  the 
brethren.  This  fact  reconciles  me  to  what  on  one 
side  seems  to  me  almost  a  waste  of  time  in  sight- 
seeing. It  does  not  look  to  me  now  as  if  the 
'  rest  '  element  had  come  to  much,  for  I  have  not 
often  been  busier  than  on  this  journey.  I  have 
a  very  heavy  mail  at  every  stopping  place,  and 
many  local  letters  at  every  point,  all  of  which  must 
be  answered.  Still  I  am  no  doubt  getting  rest  in 
the  change,  and  will  come  home  fat  and  strong.'' 

His  last  thought  was  not  of  himself,  but  of  those 
whom  he  had  met ; 

**  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  we  have  left  a  little 
new  cheer  and  courage  in  some  earnest  hearts 
along  the  way ;  certain  it  is  that  we  have  received 
blessing  in  our  hearts  and  lives  from  the  people 
we  have  met." 


VACATION  DAYS  207 

He  returned  from  the  six  weeks'  absence  from 
his  desk  with  humble  heart : 

**  It  ought  to  be  worth  a  great  deal  to  one  to 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  all  this  natural 
beauty.  It  ought  to  make  a  better  man  of  him, 
this  beholding  so  much  of  the  loveliness  and 
grandeur  God  has  made.  It  ought  to  make  his 
heart  gentler,  his  life  purer  and  sweeter,  his  spirit 
more  lovely.  It  ought  to  make  him  more  reverent 
and  exalted  in  all  his  thoughts  and  feelings.  As 
we  take  up  again  our  tasks  and  duties  we  shall  all 
remember  the  happy  days  of  privilege  we  have 
enjoyed  and  be  the  better  for  them.'' 

Three  years  later,  in  the  summer  of  1895,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  took  their  only  real  vacation  trip 
together — six  weeks  in  Europe.  The  outward- 
bound  voyage  gave  Dr.  Miller  an  unusual  oppor- 
tunity to  greet  a  number  whom  he  had  known  by 
name  and  through  correspondence,  but  had  never 
met.  In  a  letter  to  the  Evangelist  he  spoke  of  the 
presence  of  ^  *  several  passengers  whom  everybody 
has  wanted  to  meet,  and  whose  inJfluence  has  been 
stimulative  of  good  fellowship  and  a  cheerful, 
kindly  spirit."  It  did  not  occur  to  him  that  he 
was  one  of  the  most  sought  for  passengers  in  a 
company  that  included  a  number  of  famous  men, 
or  that  his  words  about  others  aptly  described 
himself. 

A  pleasant  Sunday  was  spent  in  London.  As 
usual,  he  was  found  in  church,  morning,  after- 
noon and  evening: 


208     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

*'  For  myself,  I  chose  three  preachers  whom  I 
wished  to  hear  and  sat  through  the  full  service  in 
each  place.  In  the  morning,  I  visited  the  City- 
Temple  and  listened  with  real  interest  and  profit 
to  Dr.  Joseph  Parker.  The  great  building,  which 
is  said  to  seat  2,700  people,  was  filled  from  pulpit 
to  door.  The  prayer  was  reverent,  inclusive,  ten- 
der, and  full  of  sympathy.  Although  it  was  brief, 
yet  nobody  was  left  out.  Dr.  Parker  announced 
no  text,  but  spoke  in  general  on  charity  in  judging 
others.  The  sermon  was  full  of  excellent  thoughts 
and  suggestions.  In  the  afternoon,  I  went  to 
Westminster  Abbey  to  hear  Canon  Gore.  There 
is  not  much  comfort  in  attending  services  in  the 
Abbey,  as  it  is  almost  impossible  to  hear  unless 
one  gets  a  seat  well  to  the  front;  there  is  so  much 
confusion  caused  by  people  coming  and  going. 
To-day  the  throng  was  great,  many  of  our  coun- 
trymen attending.  In  the  evening,  I  went  to  hear 
the  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyer.  He  is  a  preacher  of  rare 
power,  Scriptural  and  spiritual.  Few  other  men 
in  the  world  are  reaching  out  so  widely  in  benefi- 
cent influence  as  Dr.  Meyer.  His  little  books  and 
tracts  have  gone  wherever  the  English  language 
is  read,  and  have  carried  everywhere  a  holy  pro- 
gram of  divine  love  and  grace.  He  is  a  pro- 
digious worker,  never  resting,  yet  never  seeming 
weary." 

In  Paris  he  was  invited  to  speak  by  Charles 
"VYagner.  After  the  service  an  American  came  to 
him,  and  said : 

**  I  came  to  hear  Mr.  Wagner,  and  I  was  dis- 
appointed when  you  got  up  to  speak.  But  I  shall 
always  be  glad  I  heard  you.    I  remember  only  one 


VACATION  DAYS  209 

thing  you  said,  but  this  I  shall  never  forget.  I 
refer  to  your  definition  of  religion ;  you  said,  '  To 
me  religion  means  just  one  thing :  Jesus  and  I  are 
friends.'  " 

The  days  in  Paris  were  thoroughly  enjoyed, 
but  it  was  not  until  Geneva  was  reached  that  Dr. 
Miller  felt  at  home.  The  knowledge  that  he  was 
in  the  city  where  John  Calvin  lived  and  wrought, 
and  where  he  was  buried,  stimulated  him. 

**  I  took  an  early  opportunity  to  visit  the 
Cathedral  where  the  great  theologian  used  to 
preach.  It  is  a  plain,  thirteenth-century  building 
showing  many  marks  of  age  and  decay.  Close  by 
is  the  house  in  which  Calvin  lived.  In  the  Plain- 
Palais  Cemetery  is  his  grave,  although  it  is  uni- 
dentified, as  Calvin's  express  instruction  was  that 
no  mark  of  any  kind  should  be  put  upon  his  tomb 
to  tell  where  his  body  rested.  His  grave  needs 
no  stone,  no  monument,  for  he  is  not  dead.  He 
lives  wherever  the  reformed  faith  is  held  and  the 
doctrines  which  bear  his  name  are  taught." 

From  Geneva  the  journey  was  continued  by  way 
of  Pisa  to  Eome.  It  was  not  the  season  ordi- 
narily considered  favourable  for  a  visit  to  the  city 
by  the  Tiber,  but  Dr.  Miller  longed  to  see  the 
scenes  made  forever  memorable  by  the  presence 
of  St.  Paul  and  the  persecution  of  the  early  Chris- 
tians. A  Sunday  was  spent  in  the  city,  and  the 
travellers  joiaed  a  little  company  of  twenty-five 
people  who  gathered  at  the  American  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  for  the  only  English  service 
held  in  the  city  that  day. 


210     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

Naples,  Pompeii,  Florence,  Venice  and  Milan 
were  visited  in  turn.  On  two  Sundays  Roman 
Catholic  Churclies  were  sought,  as  no  Protestant 
Church  was  to  be  found.  But  when  Lucerne  was 
reached,  the  opportunity  to  attend  the  service 
maintained  by  the  Scotch  Free  Church  was  wel- 
comed. 

Then  came  a  leisurely  trip  through  Germany,  by 
rail  and  Rhine  steamer.  Attention  was  called  in 
a  letter  to  the  Evangelist  to  the  many  relics  and 
shrines  in  the  cathedrals  along  the  way,  with  this 
added  comment: 

**  We  need  not  wish  for  such  reputed  relics  in 
our  country.  Better,  infinitely  better,  is  the  simple 
Christian  life  which  is  found  in  thousands  of  our 
churches.  Far  better  is  it  to  have  the  Holy  Spirit 
abiding  in  our  congregations  and  giving  comfort, 
strength,  joy,  peace  and  love,  than  to  have  such 
shrines  and  treasures  as  they  show  us  in  many 
of  these  great  churches  and  cathedrals,  and  not  to 
have  the  divine  Presence.  It  is  better  to  have  the 
true  Christ  with  us  than  to  possess  any  piece  of 
the  wood  of  the  '  true  cross,'  even  if  this  were  pos- 
sible.'' 

Another  pleasant  company  shared  the  home- 
ward voyage.  One  and  another  of  these  was  sin- 
gled out  for  warm  praise  by  the  traveller  who  al- 
ways saw  the  best  in  others  and  rejoiced  to  be 
able  to  tell  of  it.    Of  one  shipmate  he  said : 

**  He  was  a  genius  for  kindness,  and  few  if  any 
have  missed  receiving  from  him  some  word  of 
cheer  and  encouragement  during  the  voyage.'' 


VACATION  DAYS  211 

Probably  that  is  exactly  what  the  passenger  of 
whom  the  words  were  written  would  have  said  of 
Dr.  Miller. 

But  vacation  was  over,  so  the  letter  which  told 
of  the  voyage  concluded: 

^^  With  gratitude  to  God  for  what  we  have  en- 
joyed, we  turn  with  eagerness  to  the  work  that 
waits.'' 

He  lost  no  time  in  getting  to  the  work  that 
waited  for  him.  From  Naples  he  had  written  to 
his  associates  in  the  editorial  office : 

**  I  shall  be  in  Philadelphia  on  August  26." 

His  train  reached  the  city  half  an  hour  after 
noon.  Before  two  o'clock  he  was  seated  at  his 
desk,  ready  to  begin  the  work  of  another  long 
period  without  a  vacation. 


THE  LAST  YEAES 


Some  one  say^  that  the  secret  of  a  happy  old  age  is  a 
well-watched  past.  The  secret  of  any  to-day  is  a  well-watched 
yesterday.  And  there  is  no  better  way  to  keep  our  days 
beautiful  and  free  from  memories  that  vex  us  afterwards  than 
to  tell  Jesus  every  night  all  that  we  have  said  and  done  during 
the  day. — From  '^Making  Our  Beport/'  in  "A  Heart  Garden." 

By  and  by  in  even  the  best  life  we  come  to  a  door  which 
opens  into  old  age.  Many  are  disposed  to  feel  that  this  door 
can  lead  to  nothing  beautiful.  We  cannot  go  on  with  our  for- 
mer tireless  energy,  our  crowded  days,  our  great  achievements. 
But  there  is  altogether  too  much  letting  go,  too  much  drop- 
ping of  tasks,  too  much  falling  out  of  the  pilgrim  march, 
when  old  age  comes  on.  We  may  not  be  able  to  run  swiftly 
as  before.  We  tire  much  more  easily.  But  old  age  may  be 
very  beautiful  and  full  of  fruit.  This  door  opens  into  a  period 
of  great  possibilities  of  usefulness,  a  true  crowning  of  the 
life.  Old  age  is  not  a  blot,  if  it  is  what  it  should  be.  It 
is  not  a  withering  of  the  life,  but  a  ripening.  It  is  not  some- 
thing to  dread,  but  is  the  completion  of  Grod's  plan. — From 
"  Life's  Open  Doors,"  in  ''  The  Book  of  Comfort." 

Death  is  not  a  period  in  the  sentence  of  life — ^it  is  only  a 
comma,  a  little  breathing  place,  with  more  to  come  after. 
Just  how  the  sentence  after  the  comma  will  read,  we  cannot 
know.  Just  in  what  form  we  shall  continue  to  live,  we  may 
not  even  guess.  We  know  that  we  shall  be  the  same  persons. 
Individuality  will  never  be  lost.  I  shall  be  I  through  all 
changes  and  transformations.  The  being  that  shall  be  serving 
Grod  a  million  years  hence  will  be  the  same  person  that  played 
about  the  home  early  in  childhood,  wrought  in  the  hard  tasks 
of  mature  days,  and  suffered  and  sorrowed.  I  will  always  be 
I — ^there  never  can  be  any  confusion  of  individuality.  This 
is  perhaps  all  we  can  assert  positively  about  the  immortal 
life.  But  this  is  a  great  deal.  We  shall  lose  nothing  in  our 
efforts.  This  makes  it  immensely  worth  while  to  live. — From 
"  The  Meaning  of  Immortality;'  in  '^  The  Book  of  Comfort." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE  LAST  YEARS 

For  years  friends  who  looked  on  as  Dr.  Miller 
did  the  work  of  three  men  expressed  the  fear  that 
he  would  break  down  long  before  he  was  seventy. 
As  the  years  passed  without  the  fulfillment  of 
their  prophecies  they  marvelled.  They  saw  no 
appreciable  difference  in  his  strength  until  1909, 
when  he  suffered  a  slight  stroke  of  apoplexy.  The 
effect  of  this  seemed  to  pass  off  very  soon,  and 
for  two  years  he  was  as  active  as  ever,  at  his  desk, 
in  the  homes  of  the  people  and  in  the  pulpit.  His 
physician  urged  him  to  spare  himself — but  he 
never  knew  what  it  meant  to  spare  himself. 

On  his  seventieth  birthday  his  office  was  a  bower 
of  bloom,  and  his  mail  was  burdened  with  greet- 
ings from  those  whom  he  had  cheered  and  helped 
by  his  personal  words,  his  articles,  his  books,  his 
sermons.  They  welcomed  the  opportunity  to  tell 
him  what  his  life  had  meant  to  them. 

One  of  the  first  messages  to  reach  him  was  this, 
from  Rev.  C.  R.  Blackall,  D.D.,  Editor  of  Period- 
icals of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety : 

**  You  see  that  I  have  beaten  you  ten  years  in 
the  life  race,  and  feel  my  importance  in  dealing 

215 


216     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

with  my  junior  brotlier.  I  send  laving  congratu- 
lations. You  don't  belong  to  one  church,  or  to 
one  denomination;  you  belong  to  all  churches  of 
all  denominations!  Who  ever  heard  the  faintest 
suggestion  by  you,  with  pen  or  voice,  to  crucify 
or  ostracise  somebody  who  dared  to  speak  or  to 
believe  differently  from  yourself?  You  believe  in 
a  square  deal  with  your  brethren ;  that  is  one  rea- 
son why  I  love  you  so  much.  My  love  for  you  has 
grown  deeper  and  deeper  as  the  years  have  rolled 
on.  God  bless  you.  Your  shadow  will  abide  in 
the  years  ahead  when  the  Master  calls  you  to 
higher  and  more  extended  service  with  himself." 

A  fellow  editor  made  discriminating  comment 
on  the  wonderful  work  done  through  thirty  years : 

^*  I  have  tried  before  to  indicate  to  you  my 
amazement  at  the  voluminousness  and  variety  of 
your  wholesome  and  effective  contributions  to  the 
life  of  the  Church.  The  amazement  grows,  and 
with  it  thanksgiving  to  God.  The  nearest  parallel 
to  this  that  I  know  of  in  modem  times  was  Spur- 
geon;  and  both  in  continuousness  and  in  literary 
charm  and  lasting  quality,  even  his  rare  genius 
seems  to  me  outshone  by  your  work;  while  also 
you  keep  it  up  to  a  riper  age.  I  have  always 
found  rare  pleasure  and  profit  in  perusing  your 
pages.  I  am  sure  your  writings  have  gone  deep 
and  far  into  the  development  of  modem  piety. 
I  like  your  sanity  and  sagacious  reserve  much, 
as  well  as  your  delightful  and  potent  simplicity 
of  expression;  and  the  touching  tenderness  of 
your  own  constant  mood  suffuses  your  work  with 
a  glow  from  Galilee  which  wins,  soothes  and 
strengthens.  You  seem  to  have  an  instinct  for 
phases  of  truth  which  appeal  to  the  hunger  of  the 


THE  LAST  YEARS  217 

heart  and  survive  the  changes  of  our  jostling  time. 
I  imagine  that  few  or  none  of  your  sentences  will 
need  to  be  expunged  or  passed  over  with  silent 
apology  a  hundred  years  from  now.  Moreover, 
what  you  say  ministers  to  the  organic  develop- 
ment of  the  Kingdom,  as  well  as  to  the  needs  of 
individuals.  The  combination  is  extremely  rare. 
Did  you  ever  read  of  *  the  hand  of  steel  in  a 
velvet  glove  '?  The  surface  of  your  work  is  al- 
ways unruffled,  its  form  never  rugged,  so  far  as 
I  have  been  able  to  note ;  but  one  comes  to  feel  and 
see  the  hard  fibre  beneath.  Personally,  and  as 
a  lover  of  the  Kingdom,  I  thank  God  for  your 
labours  and  your  words,  and  for  the  bow  that 
abides  in  strength  beyond  the  threescore  years 
and  ten ;  may  it  so  continue  long !  ' ' 

From  a  distant  state  came  this  birthday  letter: 

**  Five  years  ago  one  ignorant  virgin  who  did 
not  realise  that  she  had  a  lamp  at  all  was  helped 
by  your  interest,  friendship  and  sympathy  to  hold 
her  lamp  up  and  let  it  be  lighted  from  the  great 
Light.  The  foggy,  unhealthy  atmosphere  of  doubt 
and  unbelief  were  driven  out  and  disclosed  right 
near  was  the  great  Friend. ' ' 

One  who  had  worked  with  Dr.  Miller  for  a  long 
time  told  us  of  the  thoughts  the  anniversary 
brought  to  his  mind : 

'*  What  a  tremendous  sight  it  would  be  if  all 
the  millions  of  people  who  have  been  helped  by 
you  could  gather  in  one  company  to  give  greeting 
to  you  as  you  enter  on  another  decade  of  service ! 
What  messages  they  would  send  if  they  could 
speak !    How  they  would  tell  of  comfort  received, 


218     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

of  courage  renewed,  of  inspiration  given,  of  new 
visions  of  life,  of  glimpses  of  the  Master — all 
through  the  life  that  God  has  so  richly  blessed 
during  the  nearly  half  a  century  of  your  min- 
istry. 

*  *  I  am  glad  that  I,  as  one  of  this  vast  company, 
have  the  opportunity  to  tell  you  how  I  thank  God 
for  the  association  with  you  which  has  become  one 
of  the  greatest  joys  of  my  life.^' 

From  the  Board  which  he  had  served  so  long 
came  this  record  of  an  action  taken  by  a  standing 
vote: 

**  In  view  of  the  fact  that  Rev.  J.  R.  Miller, 
D.D.,  the  Editorial  Superintendent  of  the  Board, 
has  just  passed  his  seventieth  birthday,  the  com- 
mittee desires  to  place  upon  its  minutes  an  ex- 
pression of  its  high  appreciation  of  his  character 
and  services. 

**  For  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  a  most 
loyal  and  efficient  helper  in  the  work  of  the  Board. 

^^  Genial,  tactful  and  courteous  in  his  bearing, 
he  has  also  been  wise  and  able  as  an  editor  to 
a  degree  which  has  brought  great  distinction  to 
himself  and  honour  to  the  Board.  Under  his  su- 
pervision and  direction,  the  periodical  publica- 
tions of  the  Board  have  attained  a  standard  of 
excellence  which  has  not  been  surpassed,  if  it  has 
been  approached,  by  any  similar  publications. 

^*  The  committee  desires  to  congratulate  Dr. 
Miller  that  the  passage  of  the  years  has  not  dimin- 
ished his  capacity  for,  or  interest  in,  his  work,  and 
to  utter  the  sincere  hope  and  prayer  that  he  may 
be  long  spared  to  maintain  his  present  relation 
to  the  Board  and  the  activities  of  the  Church. ' ' 


THE  LAST  YEAES  219 

One  of  the  Philadelphia  morning  papers  printed 
cons]3icuously  a  letter  from  Rev.  Frank  De  Witt 
Talmage,  D.D.,  in  which  he  said ; 

*^  I  doubt  if  there  is  a  living  minister  in  all 
the  world  who  has  done  a  greater  work,  or  who 
is  more  internationally  known,  than  the  Rev.  J.  R. 
Miller,  of  this  city,  who  is  celebrating  his  seven- 
tieth anniversary.  In  the  ecclesiastical  life  he  is 
the  marvel  of  the  age.  He  has  done  the  work  of 
ten  men,  and  yet  to-day  he  is  working  harder  than 
ever. 

*^  While  others  have  been  attending  banquets 
or  sitting  by  their  firesides  of  an  evening,  his 
tireless  feet  have  been  tramping  the  streets  of  the 
city  calling  upon  the  sick  and  like  Paul  carrying 
the  gospel  into  many  homes. 

"  I  do  not  think  it  is  an  exaggerated  statement 
to  make  that  his  name  is  known  farther  and  loved 
more  than  that  of  any  other  Philadelphian,  be  he 
lawyer,  merchant,  or  minister.  Of  all  the  great 
ministers  of  the  past  not  one  has  wielded  greater 
influence  for  good.  The  whole  city  should  be 
thankful  for  the  noble  life  of  this  wonderful  man.'' 

Another  Philadelphia  daily  said,  editorially : 

**  This  day  marks  Dr.  Miller's  attainment  of 
the  allotted  three  score  years  and  ten  after  a  life 
that  has  had  few,  if  any,  idle  hours.  .  .  .  His 
is  a  record  of  service  of  which  any  man  might 
well  be  honestly  proud. ' ' 

The  anniversary  was  observed  at  St.  Paul 
Church  by  a  Sunday  evening  congregation  of  more 
than  fifteen  hundred  people.     In  responding  to 


220     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

addresses  made  by  Dr.  Lee,  the  associate  pastor 
of  the  church,  the  Hon.  John  Wanamaker,  Judge 
Willson,  President  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Publication,  Dr.  Miller  said: 

*^  I  cannot  trust  myself  to  say  anything  to- 
night. It  must  be  some  other  man  you  are  talk- 
ing about.  You  don't  mean  me — you  must  mean 
my  congregation — not  me.  It  is  not  what  I  have 
done;  it  is  what  you  have  done.  The  letters  and 
the  telegrams,  so  filled  with  love,  have  gladdened 
my  heart  beyond  all  description.  I  thank  God 
that  I  have  had  a  share  in  leading  you  in  your 
lives.  It  has  been  a  great  privilege.  My  one  pur- 
pose is  to  fill  the  years  so  full  of  humble,  loving 
service  that  every  birthday  shall  mark  a  year  of 
complete  consecration  to  the  Master.  I  feel  as 
Louis  Kossuth  said:  *  I  would  like  my  life  to  re- 
semble the  dew,  which  falls  so  noiselessly  through 
the  night,  and  just  as  silently  passes  away,  soon 
as  the  rays  of  the  morning's  sun  beams  upon  the 
earth.  Unnoticed  by  men's  eyes,  save  for  an  oc- 
casional iridescent  sparkle  here  and  there  upon 
some  blade  of  grass,  it  is  drawn  upward  and 
passes  away — but  all  that  it  has  touched  is  fresh- 
ened and  beautified  by  its  silent  yet  potent  pres- 
ence.' " 

Three  months  after  the  anniversary  service  Dr. 
Miller  had  a  second  slight  apoplectic  stroke  which 
affected  his  entire  right  side.  An  associate  in  the 
editorial  office  who  found  him  sitting  helpless  at 
his  desk  was  greeted  with  a  smile,  and  the  words : 

**  It  has  come.   It  is  all  right." 


THE  LAST  YEAES  221 

This  was  the  way  he  received  what  he  thought 
was  to  prove  the  summons  to  his  Friend. 

But  he  was  to  be  spared  yet  longer  to  minister 
to  the  world.  He  rallied,  and  in  September  was 
again  in  the  office.  He  made  one  slight  conces- 
sion to  failing  strength — ^he  reached  his  desk  fif- 
teen minutes  later  in  the  morning  and  left  as 
much  sooner  in  the  evening,  but  even  so  he  was 
at  work  before  the  arrival  of  any  of  his  assistants, 
and  remained  for  some  time  after  the  last  of 
them  went  home.  He  still  allowed  himself  only 
ten  minutes  for  lunch,  as  in  previous  years. 
Sometimes  he  did  not  leave  his  desk  for  even  this 
brief  interval. 

He  continued  to  preach  at  St.  Paul  Church  usu- 
ally once  a  Sunday,  to  conduct  the  prayer  meet- 
ing, and  to  make  his  visits  of  comfort  and  inspira- 
tion. Dr.  Lee  did  all  he  could  to  relieve  him  of 
responsibility,  but  he  wished  to  be  of  the  utmost 
possible  use  to  his  people  while  strength  was  given 
him,  so  he  would  not  give  up  his  work. 

The  unusually  warm  days  in  July,  1911,  were 
hard  on  him,  and  he  was  compelled  to  go  to  At- 
lantic City  for  the  month  of  August.  When  he 
returned  he  had  to  make  use  of  an  invalid's  chair 
from  the  car  to  the  waiting  cab.  Yet  he  insisted 
on  going  from  the  railway  station  to  his  office. 

During  September  and  October  he  was  unable 
to  walk  without  assistance,  but  was  at  work  every 
day  and  almost  all  day,  using  a  cab  morning  and 
evening.    La  November  he  felt  strong  enough  to 


222     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

use  the  street  cars  and  to  continue  his  visits  in 
the  homes  of  the  people.  Again  his  physician 
warned  him  that  unusual  exertion  might  cause 
death  at  any  time,  as  the  blood  vessels  were  hard- 
ening, and  the  enlargement  and  dilatation  of  the 
heart  were  becoming  more  and  more  evident. 
While  he  tried  to  cooperate  with  the  physician  in 
relieving  the  conditions,  he  felt  that  he  could  not 
take  the  time  to  stop  work  and  care  for  himself. 

At  length  increasing  feebleness  led  him  to  ask 
for  the  severing  of  the  ties  with  the  church  which 
he  had  seen  grow  from  nothing.  Yet  even  then 
he  could  not  forego  the  privilege  of  going  to  the 
sick  room  of  some  sufferer  or  kneeling  with  those 
from  whom  God  had  called  a  loved  one.  Some- 
times it  was  necessary  to  use  a  cab  for  these  visits, 
but  he  continued  them  as  long  as  he  could — and 
this  was  far  longer  than  almost  anyone  else 
would  have  thought  possible. 

His  seventy-second  birthday  found  him  still  able 
to  reach  his  desk  and  do  effective  work.  Again 
there  came  to  him  scores  of  letters  from  all  parts 
of  the  world  which  made  him  more  eager  even 
than  before  to  work  for  others  with  his  last  ounce 
of  strength. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  of  the  greetings  on 
this  anniversary  was  an  editorial  utterance  in 
The  Christian  Endeavour  World: 

'*  You  are  still  a  young  man,  Dr.  Miller,  though 
you  have  advanced  one  day  into  your  seventy- third 


THE  LAST  YEARS  223 

year.  You  know  the  secrets  of  perpetual  youth: 
love  to  God,  love  to  man,  and  hard  work.  You  are 
a  Presbyterian,  and  no  one  has  better  served  that 
great  denomination  than  its  editorial  superintend- 
ent for  more  than  three  decades.  But  you  are 
also  a  universal  Christian  leader.  Millions  of  all 
denominations,  in  all  lands,  have  read  your  sixty 
books,  and  have  entered  with  you  into  the  holy 
places.  But  in  the  Great  Day,  when  your  books 
and  your  faithful  and  brilliant  editorial  service 
are  gratefully  remembered,  there  will  be  for  you 
a  crown  outshining  these:  the  crown  of  the  ear- 
nest pastor  and  the  loving,  sympathetic  friend. 
And  many  thousands  will  press  to  join  you  in  your 
coronation. ' ' 

A  little  more  than  a  month  later  Dr.  Miller 
closed  his  desk  for  the  last  time.  ''  His  legs  have 
been  worn  out  in  the  service  of  St.  Paul  Church, '  * 
his  physician — one  of  the  elders  of  the  church — 
explained  to  inquiring  friends. 

But  while  his  legs  had  given  out,  his  brain  was 
active.  His  days  were  spent  in  conferences  with 
editorial  associates,  examining  the  editorial  mail, 
dictating  replies  to  important  letters,  receiving 
visits  from  those  who  came  to  him  for  counsel  and 
help,  and  arranging  and  revising  chapters  for 
**  The  Book  of  Comfort  "  and  the  eighth  and  last 
volume  of  ' '  Devotional  Hours  with  the  Bible. ' ' 

Always  he  was  cheerful  and  happy.  There  was 
no  vain  longing  for  the  activities  that  he  felt  he 
would  never  again  be  able  to  take  up,  for  always 
he  was  living  in  the  spirit  of  words  written  to 
his  anxious  friends  at  the  church: 


224    THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

**  I  understand  that  when  I  am  physically  un- 
able to  do  the  work  I  would  be  doing  if  I  were  able, 
it  is  not  my  work  at  all.  It  would  have  been  mine 
if  I  were  strong  and  well.  But  now  my  duty  is 
just  to  rest  and  be  still,  and  let  others  do  the 
work  which  I  cannot  do.  The  Good  Shepherd's 
call  to  me  now  is  not  to  follow  in  the  dusty  way, 
but  to  *  lie  down  in  green  pastures/  Neither  is 
the  time  of  lying  down  lost  time.  Duty  is  not  all 
activity.  Sometimes  it  is  to  wait  and  sing.  Noth- 
ing is  going  wrong  in  my  life  because  I  am  not  in 
what  would  be  my  place  if  I  were  well.  My  min- 
istry is  not  broken  or  even  interrupted  by  this 
experience.  My  work  for  my  Master  has  not  been 
stopped — its  form  only  has  been  changed." 

A  chapter  in  **  The  Book  of  Comfort  "  which 
came  in  inspired  fervour  from  his  hands  on  one 
of  the  days  when  he  was  so  feeble  he  could  hardly 
hold  the  pen  is  entitled  ''  When  We  Are  Laid 
Aside."  The  closing  sentences  enforce  the  lesson 
as  given  earlier  to  his  people : 

**  We  may  be  laid  aside  from  our  active  work; 
but  God  never  lays  us  aside  from  Himself.  So  we 
need  never  lay  aside  our  joyous  witnessing  for 
Him,  His  love  and  His  keeping  power.  If  that  wit- 
ness has  counted  for  much  when  we  were  active, 
it  can  count  for  more  in  our  inactivity.  If  we 
have  wasted  the  days  of  our  activities  by  failure 
to  witness  for  Him,  we  may  yet,  in  Christ's 
strength,  start  to-day,  in  our  new  helpfulness, 
upon  a  showing  forth  of  God's  presence  in  our 
life  that  shall  gladden  Him  and  change  His 
world." 


THE  LAST  YEAKS  225 

During  tlie  first  weeks  when  Dr.  Miller  was  wit- 
nessing for  his  Master  by  his  ability  to  keep  serene 
in  inactivity,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  session  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
did  him  unusual  honour.  Immediately  after  the 
adoption  by  the  Assembly  of  the  Kesolutions  of 
the  Eeport  of  the  Board  of  Publication  and  Sab- 
bath School  Work,  Eev.  J.  A.  Worden,  D.D.,  took 
the  platform  and  said ; 

''  The  Eev.  J.  E.  Miller,  D.D.,  Editorial  Super- 
intendent of  the  Board,  is  critically  ill.  Side  by 
side  he  and  I  have  laboured  for  thirty-two  years. 
Now  it  is  feared  that  Dr.  Miller,  whom  so  many 
thousands  love  for  his  own  sake,  is  sick  unto  death. 
The  hand  that  has  written  messages  of  Christ's 
truth  and  love  to  millions  in  this  and  other  lands 
seems  forever  to  have  dropped  the  pen.  The  feet 
that  went  about  Philadelphia's  streets  on  errands 
of  mercy,  as  those  of  few  others  have  ever  done, 
now  appear  to  be  finally  paralysed  by  unwearied 
going.  The  voice  that  for  fifty  years  preached 
and  taught  Christ  publicly  and  from  house  to 
house,  is  almost  still,  and  the  heart  that  only 
throbbed  for  love  of  God  and  man  is  slowly  ceas- 
ing to  beat. 

*  *  May  I  have  the  privilege  of  moving  that  this 
General  Assembly  do  now  join  in  prayer  for  our 
beloved  Dr.  Miller — minister,  writer,  editor,  coun- 
sellor, friend, — and  that  by  a  rising  vote  we  send 
to  Dr.  Miller  a  message  of  prayer,  sympathy  and 
love?  " 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  rising  vote, 
and  the  Assembly  was  led  in  prayer.    Later  Eev. 


226     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

W.  H.  Roberts,  D.D.,  the  Stated  Clerk,  sent  this 
message  to  Dr.  Miller : 

**  It  is  my  privilege  to  communicate  to  you  the 
action  of  the  General  Assembly,  expressing  its 
sympathy  with  you  in  your  serious  illness.  The 
fact  of  your  illness  was  presented  to  the  Assembly 
by  the  Rev.  James  A.  Worden,  D.D.,  Commis- 
sioner from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and 
immediately  after  the  adoption  of  the  Report  of 
the  Assembly's  Standing  Committee  on  Publica- 
tion and  Sabbath  School  Work.  After  Dr.  Wor- 
den's  appropriate  and  touching  address,  the  As- 
sembly was  led  in  prayer,  and  in  a  most  felicitous 
manner,  by  the  Rev.  M.  A.  Brownson,  D.D.,  pastor 
of  the  Tenth  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia. 
It  is  proper  to  add  that  the  Assembly,  generally 
and  individually,  realised  the  great  value  of  your 
services  to  the  Church  through  many  years,  and 
cherished  the  hope  that  you  would,  in  due  time, 
be  restored  to  that  field  of  labour  which  you  have 
made  so  fruitful  for  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the 
welfare  of  souls. ' ' 

To  this  letter  Dr.  Miller  sent  the  characteristic 
response : 

**  I  am  deeply  grateful  for  the  Assembly's  mes- 
sage. The  kind  words  sent  from  all  over  the 
world  tell  me  that  the  end  of  my  work  is  at  hand. 
I  am  ready." 

Increasing  feebleness  kept  the  invalid  in  bed 
during  the  last  weeks  of  June.  He  suffered  little. 
For  a  time  he  knew  those  who  stood  by  his  bedside, 
but  during  the  last  few  days  his  mind  wandered 


THE  LAST  YEAES  227 

and  the  light  of  recognition  was  seldom  in  his 
eyes.  But  the  light  that  is  not  of  earth  was  be- 
coming more  and  more  noticeable  to  those  who 
had  the  privilege  of  looking  on  his  smiling,  happy 
face. 

He  had  already  passed  beyond  the  reach  of 
such  words  as  these  that  came  from  Dr.  F.  B. 
Meyer ; 

^*  I  hear  that  my  beloved  friend  is  very  near 
his  Home-Going.  If  he  is  able  to  hear  of  any 
human  friend  whom  he  has  loved,  please  mention 
my  name  to  him;  tell  him  that  I  have  loved  him 
and  that  his  love  has  been  sweet.  Ask  him  to  look 
out  for  me  when  I  come. '  * 

The  end  of  life  on  earth  came  without  warning 
on  the  afternoon  of  July  2,  1912.  Mrs.  Miller  and 
the  only  daughter,  Mary  Wanamaker  Miller 
(Mrs.  W.  B.  Mount),  were  present,  but  it  was 
impossible  to  summon  the  sons — William  King 
Miller  and  Eussell  King  Miller.  One  moment  Dr. 
Miller  seemed  to  be  resting  quietly;  the  next  he 
was  at  rest. 

He  had  gone  to  be  with  his  Friend.  For  him 
the  new  life  had  begun — the  life  of  which  he  de- 
lighted to  speak  as  '^  a  clause  in  the  sentence  of 
existence,  begun  after  the  comma  which  we  call 
death." 

^'  Oh,  how  happy  Jesus  must  be  now!  "  was  the 
glad  comment  made  by  one  of  the  little  grand- 
children who  had  delighted  to  romp  with  him  whom 
God  had  called  to  Himself. 


228     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

The  funeral  services,  held  in  St.  Paul  Church, 
were  most  simple.  They  were  arranged  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Miller  ^s  wishes  made  known  months 
before  to  members  of  the  family  and  to  Dr.  Lee. 
There  was  no  address,  but  only  prayer,  the  read- 
ing of  Scripture,  the  repeating  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Psalm  by  the  vast  congregation,  the  singing 
by  a  soloist  of  ''  He  will  lead  His  flock  like  a 
Shepherd  "  from  HandePs  **  Messiah,"  and  the 
singing  by  the  congregation  of  Dr.  Miller's  fa- 
vourite hymn: 

*^  0  Love  that  wilt  not  let  me  go, 
I  rest  my  weary  soul  in  Thee; 
I  give  Thee  back  the  life  I  owe, 
That  in  Thine  ocean  depths  its  flow 
May  richer,  fuller  be. 

*^  0  Light  that  followest  all  my  way, 

I  yield  my  flickering  torch  to  Thee; 
My  heart  restores  its  borrowed  ray, 
That  in  Thy  sunshine's  blaze  its  day 
May  brighter,  fairer  be. 

"  0  Joy  that  seekest  me  through  pain, 

I  cannot  close  my  heart  to  Thee; 
I  trace  the  rainbow  through  the  rain, 
And  feel  the  promise  is  not  vain 
That  morn  shall  tearless  be. 

**  0  Cross  that  liftest  up  my  head, 

I  dare  not  ask  to  fly  from  Thee; 
I  lay  in  dust  life's  glory  dead. 
And  from  the  ground  there  blossoms  red 
Life  that  shall  endless  be." 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION 


Not  one  of  us  ever  dreams  of  all  the  possibilities  of  his 
life.  The  plainest  of  us  carries  concealed  splendours  within 
him.  If  we  knew  what  noble  qualities  are  lying  undeveloped 
within  us,  what  powers  are  waiting  to  be  called  out,  what  few 
things  we  may  achieve  in  the  years  before  us,  it  ought  to 
inspire  us  to  our  best  life  and  effort.  Perhaps  no  one  ever 
does  reach  in  this  world  all  that  he  might  attain. — From  "  The 
Awakening  of  Life's  Glory,"  in  "A  Heart  Garden.'' 

Most  people  employ  but  a  fragment  of  the  capacity  of  their 
life  and  then  allow  great  measure  of  capacity  to  lie  unde- 
veloped, and  in  the  end  to  atrophy.  A  volume  could  be  filled 
with  a  description  of  a  human  hand,  its  wonderful  structure, 
and  the  things  it  can  be  trained  to  do.  Yet  how  many  hands 
ever  reach  the  limit  of  their  possible  achievements?  Think  of 
the  powers  folded  up  in  a  human  brain  and  of  the  little  of 
these  powers  most  of  us  ever  bring  out  in  life.  Now  and 
then  a  man  starts  in  ignorance  and  poverty  and  reaches  a 
greatness  in  ability  and  in  achievement  which  amazes  the 
world.  Doubtless  thousands  and  thousands  who  never  attain 
anything  beyond  mediocrity  have  just  as  great  natural  ca- 
pacity, but  the  splendid  powers  of  their  life  are  allowed  to  run 
to  waste.  They  are  lacking  in  energy  and  do  only  a  little  of 
what  they  might  do. — From  ^^  In  That  Which  Is  Least,"  in 
"The  Book  of  Comfort," 


CHAPTER  XIV 

TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION 

While  it  was  Dr.  Miller's  request  that  no  flowers 
be  laid  on  the  casket  and  that  no  words  of  eulogy 
be  spoken  at  the  funeral  service,  he  could  do  noth- 
ing to  prevent  the  writing  of  tributes  to  his  mem- 
ory by  editors  and  correspondents  everywhere. 

As  soon  as  the  telegraph  spread  the  news  that 
he  had  gone  to  live  with  his  Friend  letters  began 
to  come  in  an  avalanche.  Within  a  week  or  two 
memorial  services  were  held  in  churches  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country — not  only  churches 
where  he  was  known  personally,  but  churches 
where  no  one  could  tell  of  him  except  as  they  had 
learned  to  value  him  because  of  his  letters,  his 
work  as  editor,  and  his  books. 

Among  the  hundreds  of  letters  which  told  of 
gratitude  to  God  for  his  life  and  related  instances 
of  his  helpfulness  three  may  well  find  place  here, 
as  they  represent  well  the  spirit  of  all  the  corre- 
spondents. 

A  Philadelphia  pastor  who  had  known  him  for 
many  years  said: 

* '  I  was  a  lad  when  Dr.  Miller  came  to  Bethany 
and  have  been  honoured  with  his  friendship  ever 

231 


232     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

since.  I  know  of  no  man  in  the  ministry  of  our 
Cliurcli  who  lias  been  so  varied  and  abundant  in 
Ms  work,  and  whom  God  so  richly  and  manifestly 
blessed  in  every  department  of  liis  work.  His 
editorial  and  literary  work  has  had  a  world-wide 
fame,  and  deservedly  so.  The  effect  of  whatever 
he  wrote,  whether  in  the  form  of  tract,  magazine, 
or  book,  was  edifying  and  comforting.  His  writ- 
ing resulted  in  character-building  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  building  up  of  broken  hearts  on  the  other. 
Eternity  alone  can  reveal  the  extent  of  the  cheer, 
the  encouragement,  the  inspiration  and  the  com- 
fort which  he  produced  by  personal  word  or  by  his 
pen. 

**  Our  own  home  in  very  recent  days  has  been 
blessed  with  his  words  of  comfort  in  the  time  of 
sore  bereavement  and  deep  sorrow.  He  was  truly 
a  '  son  of  consolation.' 

**  But  Dr.  Miller  not  only  had  a  great  heart, 
he  had  also  a  great  mind.  Generations  yet  to 
come  will  acknowledge  this  as  his  editorial  and 
literary  work  are  more  leisurely  reviewed.  It  is 
acknowledged  everywhere  now,  but  his  reputation 
in  this  regard  will  be  much  wider  later  on." 

Messrs.  Hodder  and  Stoughton,  through  whom 
Dr.  Miller's  books  found  their  way  to  the  homes 
of  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Miller: 

*'  As  friend  and  as  author  Dr.  Miller  meant 
very  much  to  us  and  we  deplore  his  loss  more 
than  we  can  possibly  say.  We  look  back  on  the 
long  years  of  our  relationship  with  the  feeling  of 
bitter  pain  that  they  are  closed,  and  great  thank- 
fulness for  all  the  kindness,  the  consideration,  the 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  233 

affection  that  have  made  them  forever  memora- 
ble in  our  firm's  history.  We  have  lost  a  dear 
friend,  as  well  as  a  very  valued  and  most  es- 
teemed author.  And  we  are  very  sorrowful.  .  .  . 
There  are  so  many  to  whom  liis  name  is  forever 
blessed.  Of  him,  more  than  of  most,  it  is  true  that 
his  works  do  follow  him.  He  still  speaks,  and  will 
ever  speak,  while  there  are  worried,  troubled 
hearts  to  listen." 

Rev.  Herrick  Johnson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  was  a 
pastor  in  Philadelphia  during  Dr.  Miller's  early 
years  at  Bethany,  paid  this  tribute : 

*^  He  was  one  of  the  noble  company  that  I  knew 
here  in  Philadelphia  in  very  blessed  association 
when  I  was  here  as  pastor  of  the  First  Church. 
We  all  loved  him.  His  place  in  our  ministerial 
circle  was  unique.  His  gentleness  made  him  great. 
His  winsomeness  had  no  weakness  in  it.  Yet 
somehow  everybody  felt  drawn  to  him.  He 
seemed  so  closely  in  touch  with  the  best  in  heart 
and  life.  Gentle  as  a  child,  yet  firm  as  a  rock, 
genial  in  spirit,  lovable,  helpful,  always  true,  al- 
ways tender,  the  memory  of  him  is  a  benediction. ' ' 

The  editor  of  The  Continent  called  him  **  A 
Twentieth  Century  Saint,"  and  said: 

*^  No  man  identified  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  America  has  ever  been  more  profoundly 
or  more  widely  loved  than  Dr.  James  Russell 
Miller,  the  Editorial  Superintendent  of  the  denom- 
inational Board  of  Publication — just  now  '  gone 
on  before.'  And  well  did  he  deserve  love.  In  him 
the  gentleness  of  manhood  and  the  manhood  of 


234     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  B.  MILLER 

gentleness  combined  to  make  the  simple  life  of 
an  unmistakable  modern  saint — a  saint  of  the 
Christ  sort,  attaining  holiness  not  in  ascetic  with- 
drawal from  the  world  nor  in  pretentious  piety- 
exhibited  for  admiration  of  the  world,  but  in  day- 
by-day  service  humbly  rendered  for  the  weal  of 
just  as  much  of  the  world  as  he  could  bring  within 
his  patient  and  laborious  reach. 

**  It  was  in  the  beautiful  church  home  of  the 
latter  congregation  that  Dr.  Miller's  friends  paid 
to  him  marvellous  memorial  tribute  of  love.  The 
services  were  of  the  simplest  sort  because  Dr.  Mil- 
ler had  so  commanded  that  they  must  be.  Just 
before  his  death  he  had  even  forbidden  that  flow- 
ers should  be  heaped  upon  his  coffin.  But  the 
richer  and  lovelier  flowers  of  a  tender  reverence 
from  hosts  of  friends  acknowledging  his  helpful- 
ness bloomed  around  his  bier,  and  the  whole  at- 
mosphere of  the  church,  which  owed  its  very  exist- 
ence to  his  fidelity,  was  electric  with  spoken  and 
unspoken  tributes  to  the  glorious  success  of  a  life 
that  sought  no  other  wealth  than  the  wealth  of 
a  great  opportunity  to  serve. ' ' 

In  The  Preshyterian  Banner — ^published  in  the 
city  where  Dr.  Miller  secured  his  seminary  train- 
ing— was  this  strong  message : 

**  Dr.  Miller  was  an  acceptable  preacher  and 
winsome  pastor,  as  was  shown  in  the  way  time 
and  again  a  handful  of  people  gathered  up  by 
himself  grew  to  a  great  congregation.  But  his 
chief  gift  and  work  was  as  a  writer.  As  editor 
of  our  Sunday-school  periodicals  he  was  pouring 
into  their  pages  a  steady  stream  of  articles  and 
conmients,  and  these  from  time  to  time  were  gath- 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  235 

ered  up  into  books.  He  was  an  astonishingly  pro- 
lific writer,  and  produced  no  fewer  than  sixty 
volumes.  These  were  nearly  all  expository  and 
devotional  in  substance  and  style  and  have  fed  a 
whole  generation  on  their  appetising  and  whole- 
some bread.  He  had  a  genius  for  seeing  the  homi- 
letical  uses  of  things,  and  every  common  thing  or 
daily  event  or  experience  became  a  text  in  his 
hand  for  a  practical  application  and  interesting 
bit  of  preaching.  His  writings  .  .  .  are  wonder- 
fully tender  and  beautiful.  If  there  are  few  thun- 
der clouds  and  lightning  flashes,  raging  torrents 
and  cataracts  in  his  pages,  they  are  full  of  summer 
peace  and  beauty,  everywhere  flushed  with  little 
rivulets  that  keep  the  grass  green  and  besprinkle 
it  with  flowers.  His  books  are  restful  and  sooth- 
ing, full  of  quiet  but  fresh  inspiration  and  cheery 
optimism,  and  they  have  comforted  and  encour- 
aged countless  thousands  of  readers.  The  whole 
Church  will  mourn  and  miss  him,  and  his  loss  will 
be  felt  far  beyond  our  bounds." 

This  editorial  word  in  The  United  Presbyterian 
revealed  the  affection  inspired  by  Dr.  Miller  in 
the  denomination  from  which  he  sought  release  in 
1868: 

'*  Dr.  Miller  was  one  of  those  men  whom  no  de- 
nomination can  monopolise.  His  ambition  to  do 
good  was  as  wide  as  the  longings  of  the  human 
heart.  He  belonged  emphatically  to  the  Church  of 
Christ.  All  denominations  found  in  his  literature 
help  and  comfort  and  blessing;  all  firesides  felt  the 
glow  of  his  own  warm  heart.  He  was  no  contro- 
versialist, but  one  who  desired  to  bring  the  peace 
of  God  to  sorrowing  souls.    Quiet,  unobtrusive, 


236     THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  J.  R.  MILLER 

unassuming  in  his  life,  out  of  Ms  own  experience 
and  hope  he  gave  his  message  to  humanity.  He 
spoke  to  the  soul  of  all  men,  and  they  are  few, 
if  any,  who  have  read  his  writings,  but  have  been 
made  better  by  them.  His  influence  is  not  en- 
tombed with  his  body,  but  lingers,  as  the  youth 
of  the  springtime  or  the  summer  sunshine,  to  con- 
tinue year  after  year  in  the  homes  and  hearts  of 
the  generations  that  follow.  When  his  kindly  fea- 
tures are  forgotten,  when  the  friends  who  knew 
and  loved  him  have  passed  from  earth  and  slum- 
ber with  him  in  the  dust,  the  words  that  he  has 
written  will  be  his  memorial  to  their  sons  and 
daughters.  We  cannot  estimate  the  influence  of 
such  a  life.  It  is  mightier  than  warrior's  or 
statesman's.  It  is  like  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
that  its  purpose  is  to  make  men  better,  purer, 
richer  in  riches  that  perish  not,  and  wise  in  the 
wisdom  that  never  faileth." 

The  Stmday  School  Times — whose  editorial  col- 
umns Dr.  Miller  enriched  by  scores  of  articles 
which  later  became  chapters  in  his  books — said : 

^^  To  serve  the  commonest  needs  of  the  many 
calls  for  a  very  uncommon  man — he  does  it  best 
in  whom  Christ  shines  forth  most  clearly.  And 
Christ  was  the  secret  of  the  utterly  unusual  ser- 
vice to  everyday  men  and  women  which  Dr.  J.  R. 
Miller  rendered  through  the  long  and  fruitful  life- 
time which  has  now  ceased  in  the  flesh,  to  be  glori- 
fied in  richer  measure  beyond.  Dr.  Miller's  mis- 
sion in  writing  seemed  to  be  to  give  out  the  simple 
tilings  of  God  for  which  a  hundred  thousand  hearts 
were  hungering.  His  spirit  was  always  childlike ; 
therefore  he  could  help  many.    And  his  writings 


TEIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  237 

had  tlie  rare  quality  of  universal  service  because 
his  personal  life  was  ceaselessly  serving  in  the 
same  way.  His  individual  ministries  of  love  to 
men  and  women  about  him  were  indefatigable. 
His  life  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable,  in  its 
high-pressure  efficiency  and  output,  of  our  genera- 
tion. As  author,  editor,  pastor  and  friend,  he 
seemed  to  accomplish  all  the  time  about  twice  as 
much  as  most  men,  and  never  be  hurried  or 
strained  as  he  did  it.  His  life  was  a  challenge 
and  a  benediction,  a  rebuke  and  comfort,  to  those 
who  knew  him  well.  The  Saviour  who  was  his 
life  showed  himself  forth  marvellously  through 
Dr.  Miller,  as  He  will  through  anyone  who  is  as 
eager  as  Dr.  Miller  was  to  let  Christ  live  in  him 
and  serve  through  him." 

The  editor  of  The  Christian  Endeavour  World 
thus  told  his  readers  of  the  passing  from  earth 
of  one  whom  he  had  been  proud  to  number  among 
his  contributors : 

**  The  death  of  few  Americans  will  be  more 
mourned  than  that  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Miller. 

''  In  spite  of  his  enormous  literary  and  edi- 
torial work  Dr.  Miller  was  always  an  enthusiastic 
and  abundantly  successful  preacher  and  pastor, 
and  has  told  the  writer  more  than  once  that  he 
would  rather  give  up  all  his  other  work  than  this. 

*'  Dr.  Miller's  books  .  .  .  combine  a  rare  sym- 
pathy with  humanity,  a  deep  appreciation  of  all 
that  is  best  in  literature,  and  a  sturdy  common 
sense  that  renders  every  line  he  ever  wrote 
stanch  and  strong. 

^^  Even  more  than  any  of  these  aspects  of  his 
life,  those  who  knew  Dr.  Miller  will  cherish  the 


238     THE  LIFE  OF  DB.  J.  R.  MILLER 

memory  of  his  personal  character;  it  was  so  sweet, 
so  strong,  so  true  to  the  best  ideals.  A  man  of 
tireless  industry,  he  always  had  time  to  do  the 
little  kindly  acts  that  make  up  so  much  of  the 
happiness  of  this  world;  and  many  thousands — 
probably  many  more  thousands  than  he  himself 
ever  guessed — ^will  rise  up  at  the  last  day  and  call 
him  blessed." 

One  of  the  Philadelphia  daily  papers — the  Pub- 
lic Ledger — gave  place  in  its  editorial  columns  to 
a  communication  from  the  pastor  of  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church : 

**  A  few  years  since,  while  occupying  the  same 
seat  with  Dr.  Miller  on  our  way  to  New  York  City, 
I  came  to  get  a  glimpse  of  his  inner  life  that  deep- 
ened all  my  former  impressions  of  the  man. 
While  conversing  on  local  matters  pertaining  to 
our  respective  denominations,  I  asked  him  to  tell 
me  in  a  single  word  what  was  the  requirement  that 
he,  a  man  then  seventy  years  of  age,  felt  was 
needed  especially  to-day  to  be  emphasised  by  the 
Christian  ministry — Roman  Catholic  as  well  as 
Protestant. 

**  After  a  moment  of  thought,  as  his  eyes 
glanced  over  the  rippling  waters  of  the  Delaware 
River  which  we  were  passing,  he  earnestly  re- 
plied, *  Sincerity.' 

*  *  That  word  marked  the  keynote  of  his  own  life 
in  public  and  private.  He  was  a  sincere  wor- 
shipper of  his  Lord  and  Master  and  consequently 
a  sincere  friend  to  all  whom  he  met.  His  capacity 
for  turning  off  work  and  for  accomplishing  things 
worth  while  surpassed  that  of  any  man  of  his 
years  of  my  acquaintance." 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  239 

The  readers  of  The  Congregationalist  were  told 
of  Dr.  Miller's  home-going  in  this  paragraph: 

**  Dr.  Miller  was  a  teacher,  a  worker  and  a 
saint.  His  prodigious  and  untiring  labours  in 
various  fields  of  industry  bore  abundant  and  last- 
ing fruit.  He  had  the  rare  gift  of  keeping  many 
irons  in  the  fire  at  once  and  keeping  them  warm. 
"We  have  been  in  his  office  in  the  Witherspoon 
Building  when  he  was  constantly  interrupted  not 
only  by  his  own  office  workers  but  by  members  of 
the  large  parish  which  he  was  serving.  And,  not- 
withstanding this  constant  outgo  of  sympathy  and 
counsel  and  this  exercise  of  control.  Dr.  Miller 
was  as  serene  and  quiet  as  befits  one's  conception 
of  the  author  of  books  that  have  carried  strength 
and  comfort  to  many  a  needy  heart.  He  not  only 
did  his  editorial  work  well,  but  carried  along  with 
it  the  responsibility  for  several  strong  Philadel- 
phia churches  which  he  served  in  succession,  de- 
voting his  evenings  to  parish  visiting  and  his  Sun- 
days to  preaching.  No  man  could  have  thus  suc- 
cessfully combined  several  important  functions 
without  loving  every  side  of  his  work  and  without 
keeping  in  constant  communication  with  the 
Source  of  spiritual  power.  We  are  among  the 
multitude  who  loved  and  revered  Dr.  Miller  and 
who  will  miss  him  now  that  his  work  is  ended. ' ' 

Sir  W.  Robertson  Nicoll  paid  his  tribute  in  the 
columns  of  The  British  Weekly/: 

*  ^  Dr.  Miller  of  Philadelphia,  who  may  be  justly 
called  the  most  popular  religious  writer  of  his 
time,  has  passed  away.  There  never,  we  should 
suppose,  was  a  man  who  worked  harder.    He  was 


240     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

Editorial  Superintendent  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Publication,  and  his  duties  in  this  con- 
nection might  well  have  absorbed  his  whole  time 
and  strength,  for  he  had  to  supervise  all  the  Sun- 
day-school literature  and  all  the  books  put  forth 
by  the  Board,  and  these  were  many.  In  addition, 
he  was  himself  a  voluminous  author.  In  the 
United  States  and  in  this  country  these  books  have 
literally  sold  by  the  million,  and  they  have  been 
translated  into  many  languages.  But  Dr.  Miller 
was  not  content  with  these  achievements.  He  con- 
tinued to  be  a  Christian  pastor,  and  he  had  built 
up  in  succession  three  prosperous  congregations. 
.  .  .  We  need  not  characterise  his  writings ;  they 
are  tender,  winning  and  consoling,  and  have 
moved  many  to  more  faithful  labour  and  more 
patient  endurance." 

Rev.  John  T.  McFarland,  D.D.,  editor  of  the 
Sunday-school  periodicals  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  was  in  hearty  accord  with  these  ex- 
pressions.   He  said : 

*^  During  the  last  eight  years  of  his  life  it  was 
my  privilege  to  know  Dr.  Miller  as  a  brother  editor 
of  Sunday-school  literature,  and  during  several 
of  these  years,  on  account  of  the  close  cooperation 
of  our  offices  on  special  work,  I  was  intimately  as- 
sociated with  him.  I  always  found  him  thoroughly 
fraternal  in  his  spirit,  always  anxious  to  work  in 
harmony  with  others,  generously  considerate  of 
their  wishes,  and  rejoicing  always  to  find  that  in 
the  essentials  of  faith  and  in  the  aims  of  Chris- 
tian effort,  the  various  denominations  are  so 
nearly  in  accord.  The  Sunday-school  literature 
of  his  church,  of  which  he  had  charge  for  so  many 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  241 

years,  was  brought  by  him  to  a  very  high  standard 
of  excellence ;  and  it  was  an  evidence  of  the  men- 
tal vitality  and  freshness  which  he  maintained  to 
the  last  that  he  was  in  keen  sympathy  with  the 
advance  movements  in  the  field  of  religious  edu- 
cation. He  was  absolutely  loyal  to  the  funda- 
mentals of  evangelical  faith,  but  was  open-minded 
to  the  latest  knowledge  of  the  Bible.  He  was  a 
great  teacher,  a  tireless  worker,  a  Christian  min- 
ister utterly  consecrated  to  the  service  of  his 
divine  Master,  devoting  to  that  service  his  un- 
divided time  and  strength. ' ' 

Rev.  C.  R.  Blackall,  D.D.,  for  many  years  editor 
of  the  Sunday-school  publications  of  the  Baptist 
Church — a  man  ten  years  Dr.  Miller's  senior,  and 
in  active  service  at  the  time — wrote  his  impres- 
sions for  The  Superintendent : 


a 


There  passed  into  rest  on  the  second  day  of 
July  last  one  of  the  most  helpful  and  loving  men 
I  have  ever  known.  Estimates  of  character  and 
worth  and  work,  to  be  fair,  must  be  based  very 
largely  upon  the  hidden  purposes  of  life,  which 
unconsciously  reveal  themselves  like  bands  upon 
a  coat  sleeve  to  any  careful  observer,  and  really 
show  deep-seated  principles  of  action. 

**  Dr.  Miller  was  not  a  theologian,  and  therefore 
was  not  controversial  in  thought  or  action;  nor 
was  he  aggressive  in  dealing  with  practical  ques- 
tions of  the  day  as  related  to  Sunday-school  meth- 
ods and  work.  I  had  the  pleasure  and  the  honour 
of  a  close  and  unbroken  friendship  with  him 
through  a  long  series  of  years.  We  often  dis- 
cussed questions  of  deepest  and  mutual  interest. 
I  invariably  found  him  both  frank  and  responsive. 


242     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  E.  MILLEE 

I  sometimes  thought  him  too  timid ;  I  know  better 
now,  and  that  he  shrank  from  anything  that  could 
hurt,  even  with  the  tenderness  of  a  noble  and  pure 
woman. 

**  As  editor  and  writer  he  will  always  be  best 
known,  the  world  over,  for  his  true  and  unvarying 
helpfulness.  He  evidently  believed  that  a  true 
life  is  worth  more  to  the  world  than  a  knotty  dis- 
putation; that  Sunday-school  teachers  gain  better 
spiritual  results  by  best  use  of  the  great  truths 
that  lie  upon  the  surface,  and  the  honest  applica- 
tion of  these  to  the  daily  life;  and  this  thought 
he  faithfully  and  undeviatingly  followed  in  his 
voluminous  editorial  articles  and  books. 

**  I  loved  him  much.  I  shall  surely  meet  him 
again,  after  the  limitations  of  the  flesh  are  forever 
overcome. ' ' 

Dr.  Eobert  E.  Speer,  one  of  the  Secretaries  of 
the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions, 
wrote  this  heartfelt  tribute : 

'*  He  was  an  irrefutable  evidence  of  the  truth 
of  Christianity.  No  other  religion  and  no  other 
power  could  have  produced  such  a  type.  Free 
from  all  religiosity  with  nothing  in  his  dress  or 
manner  or  vocabulary  to  indicate  the  preacher  or 
religious  teacher,  he  was  yet  one  of  the  most  inde- 
fatigable of  personal  Christian  workers  and  one 
of  the  most  devoted  and  wide-eyed  comforters  and 
prophets  of  our  day.  He  did  the  work  of  three 
ordinary  men  with  no  haste  and  apparently  with 
unlimited  time  to  give  to  individuals.  He  was  the 
best  known  and  most  widely  read  writer  of  devo- 
tional books  in  the  world,  but  all  of  human  life 
was  of  interest  to  him  and  he  lived  in  practical 


TRIBUTES  OF  AFFECTION  243 

affairs.  For  truth,  genuineness,  simplicity,  ac- 
complishing power,  kind  but  discerning  knowledge 
of  men,  considerateness,  thoughtfulness  in  detail, 
range,  definiteness  and  love  it  would  be  hard  to 
find  his  equal.  Measured  against  his  world-wide 
and  penetrating  ministry  the  great  and  noisy  po- 
litical careers  of  the  day  seem  paltry.  He  was  a 
man  of  the  abiding  world  who  therefore  was  able 
to  mould  the  world  that  does  not  abide.  Thou- 
sands of  lives  look  back  to  him  with  love  and  with 
personal  evidence  of  his  wonderful  sympathy  and 
friendship  and  wisdom.  ^^ 

Professor  W.  Brenton  Greene,  D.D.,  of  Prince- 
ton Theological  Seminary,  after  twenty-five  years 
of  intimate  association  with  him,  said  reverently: 

**  If  I  dared  let  any  man  embody  my  idea  of 
our  Lord,  I  should  find  myself  unconsciously  turn- 
ing to  Dr.  Miller  for  such  embodiment.  We  can 
try  to  follow  him  only  afar  off,  but  it  is  one  of 
God^s  best  gifts  to  us  that  we  have  been  given 
such  an  example  of  Christlikeness. 


yy 


In  1909 — in  the  chapter  on  the  death  of  Moses, 
as  printed  in  the  second  volume  of  ^^  Devotional 
Hours  with  the  Bible  " — Dr.  Miller  said: 


it 


Let  us  seek  to  make  our  lives  immortal,  not 
in  shafts  and  monuments,  not  in  riches  and  earthly 
honours,  but  by  making  the  world  better,  by  put- 
ting touches  of  beauty  into  other  lives,  by  teaching 
and  blessing  little  children,  by  encouraging  the 
weary  and  disheartened,  and  by  comforting  human 
sorrow.    Then  we  shall  need  no  grave,  with  its 


244     THE  LIFE  OF  DE.  J.  R.  MILLER 

marble  memorial,  to  keep  our  name  alive.    We 
shall  live  in  the  things  we  have  done. ' ' 

So  Dr.  Miller  lives  on  the  earth  to-day,  and  will 
live  while  the  earth  stands.  For  though  his  name 
may  in  time  be  forgotten,  the  work  that  God  en- 
abled him  to  do  will  never  perish. 


BOOKS  BY  DR.  MILLER 

(In  Order  of  Publication) 

Week  Day  Religion,  1880. 
Home  Making,  1882. 
In  His  Steps,  1885. 
The  Wedded  Life,  1886. 
Silent  Times,  1886. 
Come  Ye  Apart,  1887. 
The  Marriage  Altar,  1888. 
Practical  Religion,  1888. 
Bits  of  Pasture,  1890. 
Making  the  Most  of  Life,  1891. 
The  Everyday  of  Life,  1892. 
Girls :  Faults  and  Ideals,  1892. 
Young  Men :  Faults  and  Ideals,  1893. 
Glimpses  Through  Life 's  Windows,  1893, 
The  Building  of  Character,  1894. 
Secrets  of  Happy  Home  Life,  1894. 
Life 's  Byways  and  Waysides,  1895. 
For  a  Busy  Day,  1895. 
Year  Book,  1895. 
Family  Prayers,  1895. 
The  Hidden  Life,  1895. 
The  Blessing  of  Cheerfulness,  1896. 
Things  to  Live  For,  1896. 
Story  of  a  Busy  Life,  1896. 
A  Gentle  Heart,  1896. 
Personal  Friendships  of  Jesus,  1897. 
By  the  Still  Waters,  1897. 
The  Secret  of  Gladness,  1898. 

245 


246  BOOKS  BY  DR.  MILLER 

The  Joy  of  Service,  1898. 
The  Master's  Blesseds,  1898. 
Young  People's  Problems,  1898. 
Unto  the  Hill,  1899. 
Strength  and  Beauty,  1899. 
The  Golden  Gate  of  Prayer,  1900. 
Loving  My  Neighbour,  1900. 
The  Ministry  of  Comfort,  1901. 
Summer  Gathering,  1901. 
How?   When?   Where?,  1901. 
The  Upper  Currents,  1902. 
To-day  and  To-morrow,  1902. 
In  Perfect  Peace,  1902. 
The  Lesson  of  Love,  1903. 
The  Face  of  the  Master,  1903. 
Our  New  Eden,  1904. 
Finding  the  Way,  1904. 
The  Inner  Life,  1904. 
Manual  for  Communicant  Classes,  1905. 
The  Beauty  of  Kindness,  1905. 
When  the  Song  Begins,  1905. 
The  Best  Things,  1907. 
Glimpses  of  the  Heavenly  Life,  1907. 
Morning  Thoughts  for  Every  Day  in  the  Year,  1907. 
Evening  Thoughts,  1908. 
The  Gate  Beautiful,  1909. 
The  Master's  Friendships,  1909. 
The  Beauty  of  Every  Day,  1910. 
The  Beauty  of  Self-control,  1911. 
Learning  to  Love,  1911. 
The  Book  of  Comfort,  1912. 
The  Joy  of  the  Lord,  1912. 

Devotional   Hours   with   the    Bible,    eight    volumes, 
1909-1913. 


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